Business leaders plotting ways to bring their employees safely back while awaiting
The supplier of electronic systems for the aerospace and defense industries used measures including air filtration and expanded sick leave to prevent workplace transmission of the coronavirus even as the pandemic surged in the community.
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Safety strategies at the Andover, Massachusetts-based company, such as mandatory mask-wearing and physical distancing rules, may provide a model for other firms, according to a
“This company never closed down, but employed these mitigation measures from the beginning and had great results in that very few illnesses from COVID-19 occurred across a large workforce,” said
In late February 2020, Mercury stopped international travel and asked
By mid-March, Mercury issued a
Mercury increased sick-leave allowances and overtime pay while establishing an emergency support fund for employees to reduce stress, according to the study. Periods of isolation and quarantine for those with COVID-19 or exposed to cases were fully paid.
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“Providing sick-leave pay during this pandemic is extremely important to encourage employees to stay home who have symptoms of COVID-19 or any other illness,” Gandhi said in an email.
About 10% of 586 employees stayed home for respiratory symptoms that could be consistent with COVID-19 from March to August. Staff were encouraged to report any significant illness to the company, and only four reported severe illness from COVID-19 requiring hospitalization over the six-month study period.
In April, Mercury started upgrading its facilities, including designating one-way walking paths where possible, installing no-touch hardware in restrooms and on doors, increasing airflow via
By mid-April, Mercury strongly encouraged face masks at all facilities and during personal or outside-work activities. On April 22, the company began distributing
Mercury also commenced mandatory daily symptom screening for on-site employees. Nurses performed the screening at first, and then the company added a kiosk added for self-screening.
Other measures Mercury took include:
- adjusted schedules for on-site employees and increased spacing in offices, conference rooms, and production workbenches to reduce worker density;
- required employees to consume food in conference rooms at least 8 feet apart;
- created guidance for physical distancing, frequent hand hygiene, personal protective equipment usage, and exposure protocols;
- asked employees to self-isolate in the event of any symptoms that could be consistent with COVID-19;
- undertook “deep cleaning” on a monthly and as-needed basis.
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“We continue to take the necessary proactive steps to prepare for and respond to the coronavirus pandemic,” Mercury said. “Putting our employees at the center of our decision making has proved to be the right thing to do for all the company’s stakeholders.”