DIAM: COVID-19 Update (May 5) – Approach for Return to Work

In our last communication with you regarding pay, we noted that we were working with our customers and state and local governments on plans to restart production. As we are finalizing those plans, we wanted to let you know that our approach will be careful, thorough and methodical, so we can provide a safe work place.

Our return to work will occur in phases, based on safety protocols and customer schedules. Below are preliminary details. You will receive more information from your leadership team in the days ahead, so you can fully understand where you fit and what this means to you.

North America Safety, Health & Environment has developed a Risk Minimization Toolkit to ensure a safe working environment at all our facilities. The toolkit outlines in detail requirements for associates, and steps the company is taking, to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 as associates return to work.

Our return to work is divided into the following phases:

Phase 0

Associates will be required to work on-site (work from company (WFC)) only to meet customer needs which cannot be met another way.  This means many associates will continue to work from home. This will allow us to learn new safety protocols and maximize social distancing.

If you are not required to work on-site, continue to follow the requirements for going to DIAM Southfield campus. We will provide updates to this process as we move through the phases.

Phase 1

We will carefully determine the number of associates needed to support the business operations and customer requirements. In this phase, associates who cannot reach 100% value-added work from home (WFH), will be asked to work from company (WFC) for the amount of time to reach 100% value add. This may mean a combination of working from home (WFH) and working from company (WFC).

If the nature of your position and workload allows, please continue to work from home (WFH).

Phase 2

This phase will be launched at a minimum of two weeks after Phase 1 if there are no new government restrictions. In this phase, we will begin to gradually increase the number of associates who can reach 100% value WFH, but would like to work from company (WFC).  We will maintain all safety protocols.

For the most part, if the nature of your position allows, please continue to work from home.

Phase 3 (final phase)

We will launch this phase when all government restrictions have been lifted.  This will not occur until at least 14 days after Phase 2 is put in place. We don’t expect we will reach this phase until the second half of June or even July. If safety protocols continue to be required, we will follow the government rules.

We also plan to put in place a regional WFH policy that allows more flexibility.

Next Steps

The details of this process are currently being rolled out to management teams.  They will be in contact with you by the end of this week to provide details for implementation next week.

What do I do if I am feeling stress or grief?

We know, from the COVID-19 Pulse Survey, that this pandemic has caused stress and grief for many of you. Please know that we have resources to help you cope:

• Grief, Bereavement and Coping with Loss: provides detailed information including the different types of grief reactions, how to treat grief, addressing grief with children and more.
• Through Behavioral Health Systems (BHS), associates and their dependents have access to 5 free in-person sessions with a mental health counselor. After 5 sessions, the cost will follow your current insurance plan.
• BHS is temporarily covering some outpatient telepsych services for all covered members (including EAP) through June 30, 2020.

For more information, go to the Benefits website, use code “denso,” and click COVID-19 at the top. EAP info and resources can be found along the left-hand side.

If you are experiencing a serious mental health episode, you can apply for FMLA and/or short-term-disability through our standard benefits process. For details, contact a DIAM Team Member Solutions representative: Sarah Fox; Krysten Hamel; Mariam Karana; Yolanda McGee; Devon Levy.

Thank you for your patience as we work through these challenges. We will continue to keep you updated and provide additional details on when and how we will safely return to work together. Please take care of yourselves and your loved ones.