THE ULTIMATE TEST OF AGILITY?
On Saturday, March 14, the Prime Minister brutally announced the global lockdown, starting on March 17 at noon.
On Sunday, March 15, all employees were informed and the first measures were taken. Extensive discussions were held with the CSE. Very quickly a COVID19 program was set up with the prospect of a long containment period of at least two months (and not two weeks). The observation of the Chinese situation leads us to imagine and prepare a return to the field at the beginning of May, qualified as a miraculous hope.
This approach allows us not to suffer and to nourish one of our beliefs: success is prepared in anticipation. The second, “the numbers are stubborn”, allows us to build accordingly.
For employees with permanent contracts, a structured training program has been put in place, allowing us to validly complete the short-time working to avoid loss of purchasing power, while keeping in touch with each person to train the talents, the majority of whom are volunteers, on a daily basis.
As of March 23, our thinking is oriented to organize the exit from the confinement. We meet all the teams in video. PPE is sought and ordered (masks, gel, gloves). They follow a secure route, original in Europe, and arrive at headquarters in sufficient quantity to equip everyone until the end of June.
To ensure the health of the workforce and a loss-free delivery, a transmission chain was organized from Paris. On April 28, fifteen motivated “transporters” carried the precious cargo to its destination or halfway across France. They met up with all the employees in the parking lots of large stores in small groups and distributed complete kits.
As a result, we are back on the road to the points of sale as of April 28 (completely on May 4), properly equipped and super motivated, trained, and even more seasoned #souriredintheeyes.
I would like to pay tribute to the carriers, to the CSE, to all these #smilesintheeyes.
Together we have demonstrated our adaptability, our agility, and a superb shared culture: Sarawak!
