As some states take initial steps to reopen their economies, we want to share with you the latest on Exelon’s plans to bring remote-enabled employees back to company locations and any impact the changing circumstances will have on employees who already report to work locations every day.
The health and safety of all employees is our utmost priority. Returning additional people to our facilities at this time could make it more difficult to keep our colleagues currently working at company locations safe and increase risk to our remote-enabled employees. In addition, access to testing and PPE remains limited, and health authorities are urging continued sheltering in place. Therefore, we now anticipate that the soonest we’d have any kind of limited return won’t be until after Labor Day. We will revisit that timeframe a few weeks prior in anticipation of the potential to extend remote working even longer. In addition, the health and safety precautions for workers who are required to report to company locations – such as use of masks, gloves and other PPE, as well as social distancing and shift adjustments -- will remain in force at least through Labor Day.
The three most critical considerations in this decision are our ability to provide the proper physical distancing in our facilities and office layouts; feedback from our employees both in the field and working remotely and, of course, what the science and health authorities are telling us.
Responsible Re-entry
We want to be sure we are fully prepared when the time comes to return to the workplace, although we anticipate it won’t be back to “normal” until a COVID-19 vaccine is widely available. Bridget Reidy, Chief Operating Officer, Exelon BSC, is leading a companywide “Responsible Re-entry” task force to create a consistent, flexible and safe plan to bring remote workers back into offices and other locations, as well to support new workplace policies and procedures, and employees who continue to work remotely.
With a keen focus on your health and safety, the task force will tackle all aspects of location readiness, such as PPE, cleaning, new guidelines on common spaces, work configuration changes, health screening, and technology needs, as well as a change management plan, ongoing communications with employees and outlining the phases for re-entry.
While the eventual start date for remote employees to begin returning to their work locations has not yet been determined, the Responsible Re-entry task force will develop principles and criteria that will guide decisions across the company.
Each Operating Company will customize its own plan based on guidance from the task force, as well as a range of criteria from office location and layouts to job duties and individual health considerations.
We’ll be sharing much more information as plans develop.
Vacation Time
On a related note, many of you have been asking if we will be modifying vacation policies to provide additional carry over days because of the pandemic and restrictions on travel. As we considered the possibility, we determined -- like other companies and a majority of our industry peers -- that instead of changing our policies, we need to encourage employees to take their vacation days to rest and rejuvenate as much as possible during this challenging time. So please, make sure you are taking the time you need for your own physical and mental wellbeing. If you are a people leader, be sure to enable and encourage your teams to use their paid time off.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect our lives in ways we never could have imagined. As we begin planning for the next phases, our most important commitment -- to the health and safety of our employees, customers and communities -- never wavers. Just as we have been powering through together, we will face the future as one team, supporting each other and continuing to operate with excellence. Thank you for everything you do.
Take care,
Amy Best
