The Temporary Remote Work program has been extended to at least December 31, 2020.
An important message from:
Christian Meisner
Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. and Hospitals
Susan Bigcraft
Vice President of Administration and People & Leadership, General Counsel for Labor and Employment Law, The Permanente Federation
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, our top priority remains the health and safety of our employees, physicians, members, and the communities we serve.
Last month, we announced an extension of remote work for all national functions, shared services, and regional employees currently participating in the Temporary Remote Work program. Today we are extending the work-from-home directive through at least December 31, 2020.
We made this decision based on the latest increase in COVID-19 cases and other important considerations, including the unknowns related to stay-at-home orders and the reopening of schools. Given the success of the Temporary Remote Work program and the ongoing COVID-19 response activities, it made sense to extend the program and further assess the situation at the end of the year. We will continue to communicate as the year progresses and we have more details.
It is important to know that Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals, and Permanente Medical Group leaders may deploy employees to a facility earlier, including those who do not typically work in clinical care settings, to support care delivery or other essential operations. At this critical time in the pandemic, it is important that we embrace an “all-hands-on-deck” approach to meet the needs of safely caring for our members, our people, and our organization in response to COVID-19. Your ability to serve in a role and to be deployed in a different capacity or facility enables our clinical staff to focus on critical clinical work and is vital to our ability to meet our members’ needs. Employees scheduled to return to a work location will be notified well in advance and provided detailed guidance.
Reshaping our future
In the weeks ahead, leaders across the organization will take a bold look at how we can create a new Kaiser Permanente, building on our experiences with remote work that have fostered innovation, flexibility, and strong business and member outcomes. To continue to grow and retain our position as a recognized leader in high-quality, affordable health care, it’s vital that we leverage what we’ve learned from these unique circumstances to transform our organization for the future. The decisions we make now will ensure KP is stronger, more nimble, and furthers our mission while redefining what it means to be a best place to work.
Coming soon: employee survey
As part of this effort, employees currently working from home will receive a survey about remote work to provide feedback on their current experience and make suggestions for enhancements that would make it more engaging and productive. We will share updates with you as this work progresses.
Take care of yourself
In the meantime, it’s important to remember to take care of yourself and others. Be sure to check out the variety of support services, including mental health and wellness resources and our employee assistance program, at Here4You [1]. For the latest employee information related to COVID-19, see insideKP [2].
Where possible, avoid nonessential activities that could create unnecessary risk for exposure. And, follow recommended precautions including physical distancing, regular hand-washing, and importantly, wearing a mask anytime you’re in public or at a KP facility (for work or a medical appointment).
Thank you all for your continued dedication as we support each other and our communities during this unprecedented time.