After more than a year of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is time to take stock:
At Consulting4IT, caring for our employees has never been—and is not—merely a matter of complying with legal regulations and obligations. When it comes to the health of our employees, we make no compromises and strive to be among the market leaders in this area as well.
As early as the first few weeks of the crisis in early 2020, significant investments were made in preventive measures such as specialized air purifiers, access controls featuring temperature-checking and hand-sanitizing stations, and, of course, mandatory masks—provided free of charge to all employees in unlimited quantities.
With a few exceptions, all employees were able to perform their duties from home right from the start. The necessary technology for this was already in place before the crisis.To ensure we could continuously and promptly adapt to the ever-changing requirements imposed by regulators and the course of the pandemic, a COVID-19 task force was also formed at the start of the pandemic. This task force continuously develops new strategies and protective measures to make working in our offices as safe as possible.
Since last summer, entry to our office premises has been permitted only after a temperature check, hand sanitization, and the wearing of a mask, in order to send anyone with a fever home. Common areas and meeting rooms are equipped with various air purifiers to ensure continuous air circulation. Comprehensive room occupancy plans help minimize contact.
Together with our company physician, we have been implementing arapid testing strategy since the beginning of this year, which we view as a crucial component of our strategy to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Long before the requirements were mandated by law, employees were tested weekly by our company physician during the first quarter—free of charge but mandatory. Since self-tests were approved, all Consulting4IT employees are required to take a daily nasal swab test whenever they are on the premises at our various locations. Thousands of tests—which are free for employees—are procured regularly for this purpose.
Thanks to these comprehensive measures, there has not been a single case of infection among nearly 100 employees at the Consulting4IT offices to date.
When it comes to vaccinations, Consulting4IT is literally on the ball. All employees are being offered free vaccinations administered by the company physician. The first appointments for high-risk groups are scheduled for early May.
Christian Müller, one of the managing directors, sums it up: “Taking precautions against COVID-19 is, above all, a matter of humanity and caring for our employees. Ultimately, however, it also makes good business sense, because from the company’s perspective, nothing is more costly than the absence of one or even several employees. And in the end, our customers have also shown their appreciation by remaining loyal to us throughout the crisis. The nearly 100% transition to “remote” consulting and training went smoothly and was gratefully accepted by all customers. Ultimately, however, the most important factor in successfully navigating the pandemic is the employees themselves. Without their understanding and extra commitment, health and success fall by the wayside. We have never lacked that, and for that we are grateful.”
Our conclusion: By acting responsibly, taking the threat seriously, and showing respect for everyone we interact with, we can overcome this crisis together.