Dear colleagues,
Unprecedented times! I wanted to say a few words now that we have completed much of the immediate preparation for our response to COVID-19 and as we settle into our new ways of working for the coming days. It has already taken a lot of hard work by many people to get us to this position, for which I am very grateful.
Thank you to all of you for your commitment and patience in these extraordinary times. During a period of significant anxiety over the safety and wellbeing of our families and friends, all have remained truly professional and shown a collective spirit across Ideal Standard.
As highlighted during Tuesday’s Communications Call, whilst this is not business as usual, we still have a business to run. We need to do things in a very different way, adapt quickly and remain focused on ensuring we maintain the health of our company so that we are in the best position possible when the world returns to ‘normal’.
We need to be pursuing all avenues to drive sales, ensuring the highest levels of product availability and taking care of our cash. There are some ‘silver linings’, in recent days we have seen a demand spike for clinical basins and taps, and a steep rise in online sales. As a UK leadership team, together with the wider group, we are planning and will continue to navigate as best we can. However, based on the experience of our European colleagues in Italy and France, who are further along the curve of this epidemic, we know the challenges are set to continue.
As we have said from the outset, personal safety and wellbeing is our top priority. It is essential that we look after each other emotionally and keep our business connected as we move to home working. I have seen some great things being set up already across the business with teams working out different ways to stay in touch and to make sure that the important human contact is kept.
Please keep connected! Check-in on each other, share a joke. Regular calls; start a WhatsApp group; video calls; use MS Team – it all helps. If anyone needs to talk to someone confidentially during this difficult time, please remember we have access to the UNUM employee assistance service to help with concerns over personal and financial wellbeing.
Details of how you can access UNUM can be found in this article. Also in this edition of the Bubble, you will find helpful information such as guidelines on isolation and social distancing, and tips and user guides for those working from home.
On a lighter note, enjoy the increased number of teleconferences! Here’s a quick video you might enjoy (opens YouTube).
I would like to reassure you that the UK leadership team and our group colleagues are communicating every day and we will continue to tailor our response to the evolving situation.
Look after yourselves and those close to you.
Stephen.