News Grid Icon

 

How Our Firm is Responding to the COVID-19 Situation

To our valued clients and industry partners,

We find ourselves in the midst of an uncertain time. The current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is unprecedented, and the full extent of its global implications are yet to be seen. As the situation continues to evolve and we learn more about the role organizations like ours can play in flattening the curve and stopping the spread of coronavirus, J.L. Richards & Associates Limited (JLR) is committed to responding responsibly and adapting our operations as needed.

Our top priority is to safeguard the health and well-being of our team, our clients, and all others that our operations have the potential to effect. In support of this important goal, we have appointed an internal COVID-19 JLR Response Team, who coordinate daily to evaluate developments, review directions from appropriate health and governmental authorities, and create plans to ensure our staff remain safe and that disruptions to our business operations are minimized. To date, we have implemented the following precautionary policies:

Educating Our Employees

The best first line of defence against COVID-19 is the education of our entire team about preventing the spread through rigorous hygiene and social distancing practices, the coronavirus disease, and the resources available to them to monitor the situation and appropriately evaluate their level of risk. We are preparing internal communication and educational information on a rolling basis to ensure our staff understand the situation, have the most up-to-date information, and know how to adapt individually to ensure their health and safety.

Providing Protection

We have increased the amount of sanitary and cleaning products available in all offices, such as hand sanitizer, and have provided each staff member with access to a personal stipend for the purchase of sanitizing and protective products. We have also increased our cleaning efforts to bolster our current practices in high-touch areas.

Pausing Travel Plans

For the time being, we have paused all plans for staff travel that is non-essential. We are also requiring all staff who have recently travelled internationally to self-isolate until further notice.

Supporting Social Distancing

We are supporting social distancing measures in our offices, discouraging use of common office spaces, and have developed specific social distancing policies for any staff members required to conduct in-person site visits in the course of their work.

Adapting Our Meetings

We are requiring all staff to adapt planned in-person meetings to virtual or teleconference format, or otherwise postpone them until further notice.

Recommending Remote Work

We are recommending that all staff who can conduct their work remotely do so until further notice. In addition, we are enhancing our IT infrastructure to allow more staff the option of working from home.

Stopping Spread with Self-Isolation

On the recommendation of leading health officials, we are requiring anyone who travelled internationally recently to self-isolate for 14 days and sending them our thanks for being socially responsible.

Tapping into Telemedicine

In order to better support our team’s continued health and safety during self-isolation measures, we have added new virtual health care services to our existing benefits package. Plan members can connect with a General Practitioner via video, text, or app who can help them resolve primary care concerns immediately without having to attend a physician’s office or emergency room.

Creating Continuity for our Clients

While we are adapting our workflows, JLR is still entirely operational and our team is still here to support our clients. We are enhancing our internal infrastructure, monitoring market developments, and keeping in close communication with our clients to ensure we continue to meet our diverse deliverables and push projects forward with staff working remotely.

Ensuring Adaptability

Our dedicated Response Team is working hard to ensure JLR’s operations remain agile and adaptable in the face of increased complications as a result of this pandemic. We are prepared to adjust our approach as the situation develops, and to communicate with our clients accordingly.

As always, JLR is committed to providing our clients with value through service and commitment. Rest assured, we are prepared to meet the unique challenges that this situation presents as we weather this storm together.

About JLR

As a Platinum Club Canadian Best Managed Company, JLR provides high-quality integrated engineering, architecture, planning, and project management services to enterprises in the private and public sectors. With seven offices across Ontario, JLR’s professional services support a wide variety of projects across five key markets, placing them at the cutting edge of both value and service delivery. For information on how JLR can help with your next project, please visit www.jlrichards.ca.

Find @JLRCanada on social media! We are active on LinkedIn, Twitter, FacebookInstagram, and YouTube. For up-to-date company announcements, visit our newsroom. JLR is always looking to welcome new talent to our offices across Ontario. Visit www.jlrichards.ca/careers to find out more.

For media inquiries:
marketing@jlrichards.ca

News Grid Icon