Scripps Adds Restrictions Due to the Coronavirus

Scripps boss Brian Lawlor sent an email out to all employees in regards to how the company wants the staff to deal with the coronavirus.

FTVLive obtained a copy of the memo and it is posted below:

Local Media employees:

Last week, you received communication from both Adam and me regarding Scripps' planning and response to the coronavirus (COVID-19). In just the last week, the virus has continued to spread across the globe and is now beginning to advance in the United States. As of this morning, there are 159 confirmed cases in this country, with 11 deaths (10 of which are in Washington state). Currently there are confirmed cases in six of the states that Scripps has local stations.

As you know, the situation is changing daily, and we are watching all of these developments closely. We have a team comprised of company leaders who are meeting every morning to assess the situation, with a sharp focus on the communities in which we operate and do business.

Our daily conversations focus on protecting the health of our employees and maintaining business continuity. With this is mind, we are providing the following guidance for our stations and division, understanding that things may change based on developments related to COVID-19. Using information provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and our business continuity team, we are providing the following guidance to all employees. These policies are in effect until at least Friday, April 10. We will communicate with you if that date or if any of the guidance we provide below changes.

BUSINESS TRAVEL
· All non-essential business travel – international or domestic, will be suspended until Friday, April 10. This includes attending conferences, meetings and other work-related events. If you are unsure whether your scheduled travel is essential, please reach out to your manager.

PERSONAL TRAVEL
· If you decide to travel on your personal paid time off (PTO) to or through one of the countries deemed high risk by the CDC, or a country you are visiting becomes listed as high risk while you are there, you should plan to self-quarantine for 14 days, using your PTO, when you return to the country and prior to coming back to the office. If you do not have enough PTO to cover the self-quarantine period, your time off will be unpaid.

CHILDREN IN THE WORKPLACE
· Children, or others you care for, may not be brought into the workplace. In the event that a child is home sick, or school is closed, employees who are unable to arrange childcare should take a PTO day. · We discourage hosting any school or outside groups for tours at your stations.

CLEANING AND SANITIZING THE WORKPLACE
· We are working with our building management and janitorial service providers on cleaning protocol changes and response strategies.
· COVID-19, like most common bacteria and virus, is easily killed with the use of household and commercial cleaners. It is a good practice to clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe – this includes phones, desks and cameras, especially in newsrooms, where these items are shared among more people.

WORKING FROM HOME
· At this point, we do not see where there is any need for our local market employees to be working from home as a precaution or reaction to COVID-19.
·While many of the positions within the Local Media division would not be able to accommodate working from home, other functions may. Employees with company-issued laptops should begin to take them home each day in the unlikely event that we see that as the best way to conduct business and minimize risk in our facilities. Click here to learn more about how to be prepared to work remotely.

COMMON SENSE HEALTH AND WELLNESS
· If you have a fever or are sick, do not come to work.
· Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
· Practice “social distancing” -- refrain from handshakes; meet virtually (by phone or conference software); maintain a distance of at least 3-6 feet from anyone who is coughing or sneezing; and avoid large social gatherings or events.
· Wash your hands often, with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
·If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
· Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

COVERING THE VIRUS
· We have provided news directors with guidelines on how to cover the coronavirus story. While I understand this is a lot of information, we feel it is important to provide as much as we can to help stay safe and continue to keep our audiences informed. All this information will be posted on WorkLife, along with links to tips and resources from the CDC.

We also know that these situations can sometimes be anxiety provoking. As a reminder, Scripps offers employees a no-cost, confidential program through Magellan Healthcare to provide you with help in managing life’s challenges.You can learn more about the resources Magellan offers by calling 800-424-4616 or clicking here.

We will continue to monitor the situation and inform you of any changes. If you have any questions about this, please reach out your general managers, me or Candace Anderson, vice president, Human Resources.

Brian Lawlor
President, Local Media

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