In order to keep team members safe and to avoid any preventable disruptions to our clients, there are a number of initiatives we have implemented as part of our Safe Office Action Program (SOAP) that are over and above the health standard. These include:
- Daily staff health declarations
- Mandatory wearing of masks
- Temperature checks upon office entry
- Free staff access to doctors and nurses
- Hand sanitizer stations
- Continuous in-house deep cleaning
- Socially distanced workstations
Planning in the event of an office shutdown
We have planned internally for the scenario in which a lockdown was enforced, or the office was closed due to a COVID-19 case in the vicinity. The protocol we follow for a positive case is as follows:
- Quarantine – Any staff member who reports symptoms is quarantined and asked to work from home.
- Positive case & office shutdown – If we need to shut an office down, staff are required to leave the office immediately. Any staff members who have been in close contact with the COVID positive person must isolate and be swab tested. Test results can take anywhere from 2 to 5 days, during which time staff may not return to the office.
- Office Reopening – Before an office can be reopened, it must be deep cleaned by an external company and receive approval from the relevant local government unit.
Smaller office footprints
We are splitting our existing office floors into smaller, self-contained units with each of the new independent spaces having their own IT support crews, medical staff and other support facilities. This means that team members are exposed to a limited number of people on a daily basis in the office, as well as ensuring that if a member of staff was to test positive, only a small area would need to be temporarily shut down for deep cleaning.
Please note that your staff will remain in their current office suites and workstations. The only difference for them will be that their office code number may change and/or they may have to enter the office through a different entrance.
Future opportunity in relation to daily COVID testing
We are working with local authorities to consider the possibility of conducting daily rapid COVID tests before team members enter the office. These rapid tests are currently not commercially viable, but we continue to monitor this rapidly evolving area.
Temporary office shutdown FAQs
| FAQ | Action Path/s |
| I received an email from the Medical team that I’m a close contact and I need to follow strict quarantine measures, what will I do? | Follow the medical instructions/recommendations accordingly. The Medical team will definitely reach out to optiBPO for alignment. We will follow the medical recommendations and will ensure your client is updated. optiBPO will NOT be able to dispatch PCs due to PEZA ruling for those only subject to the 24 hour shutdown. If you have a BCP PC or an issued mPC, you can continue to work from home. If you do not have a BCP PC or mPC and will not able to work as a result of a shutdown, you can file an SIL or half day (if applicable). |
| How about my logins for the day in Staff Central? | If you have a BCP PC or an issued mPC, you can continue to work from home and complete your timesheets accordingly. Remember, you CAN NOT use any personal electronic device to resume work from home as this is against the IT Policy. You can also maximize your SIL and file a Halfday leave or your Holiday credit if applicable subject to client’s approval to cover for the day and correct tagging in Staff Central. If in the event you do not have SIL or Holiday credits, you will only be paid based on your rendered online hours. |
| I received an SMS from CS about office closure, what will I do? | Remain calm and do not panic. This is an important thing to remember. optiBPO will notify and set the right expectations to your client. optiBPO will NOT be able to dispatch PCs due to PEZA ruling for those only subject to the 24 hour shutdown. If you have a BCP PC or an issued mPC, you can continue to work from home. If you do not have a BCP PC or mPC and will not able to work as a result of a shutdown, you can file an SIL or half day (if applicable). As the deep cleaning normally takes 24 hours, you may opt to change your schedule the next day and report back in the office or continue to work from home subject to your client’s approval. |
| I already received my work PC, how can I return it back? | You have the option to return the work PC back in the office based from the scheduled office re-opening. Otherwise, keep in touch with your optiBPO Account Manager so they can also request for your work PC pull-out. |
| My work shift starts prior the scheduled office re-opening, what will I do? | You can file a change of schedule and report back in the office or you can resume your work from home set up both subject to client’s approval. You then need to keep in touch with your optiBPO Account Manager to organize your return to office plans including your work PC pull-out after your shift. |
| I am located next to a team / group who were sent home by the medical team. What will I do? I have not received any email from them. | Remain calm and do not panic. This is an important thing to remember. Not receiving an email from the Medical team means you are not a possible close contact. However, since your health and safety is our priority too, you can reach out to your optiBPO Account Manager to further verify this. Alternatively, you can reach out to the Medical team for proper evaluation and recommendations. |