Faced with the current global pandemic of COVID-19, Nelson\Nygaard is moving forward with caution and compassion. We have a social responsibility to our staff, our clients, and our communities to help flatten the curve of COVID-19 by following best practices from national experts in public health, while we continue to deliver quality projects to our clients. We also know that this pandemic will have the biggest consequences for the most vulnerable in our communities, so we are doing our part to slow transmission in the following ways:
- To promote social distancing, our staff are voluntarily working from home. We will continue this practice if current conditions warrant continued isolation and social distancing. Remote work is nothing new to our firm: for over a decade, it has provided flexibility for our staff and allowed us to bring our expertise to cities where we do not have offices. Our current IT infrastructure allows for a seamless transition to full-time remote working for all of our employees.
- All internal and external meetings have been switched to phone or video conference calls, and we are well-versed in remote collaboration, including the filesharing and communication tools that help projects run smoothly.
- We have developed a toolkit of online engagement strategies to help our clients get meaningful feedback from their communities without having to hold in-person events. Our project managers have experience leading virtual open houses and stakeholder charrettes, and our in-house visual communications team is ready to support with graphic and web development. Our commitment to equitable public involvement includes creative engagement solutions for those in the community without access to internet, and we will continue to prioritize inclusivity and equity as we adapt our approaches.
- Internally, we have policies in place for staff to self-report exposure to protect their coworkers while maintaining their privacy regarding their health. Though we are not aware of any current risks, we will also communicate any potential external exposures to our clients who may be impacted.
- Moving forward with caution and compassion also means that as we prioritize keeping people safe, we also understand that everyone’s dealing with new at-home challenges that might impact schedules and deliverables. Taking care of our staff means prioritizing their work-life balance and overall family health, as we face school closures and other disruptions to daily life.
We know that we are privileged to be able to work from home without major issues and that many people in our communities can’t afford not to go to work, therefore facing greater risks. By keeping our staff and their families from receiving or transmitting the virus, we can help to make sure limited medical resources are going to those who need it most. We encourage everyone to follow the guidance put forward by the Centers for Disease Control and The World Health Organization, as well as that of your local state and city leaders. Please let us know how we can support you, your firm, or your agency during these trying times. Email us at [email protected].