The time is NOW to practice good hygiene and keep your distance:
- Communicating Social Distancing is the top priority of health officials and a message we cannot stress enough. Pease respect the six feet apart rule in both work and personal life.
Hot Handwashing Tip:
Fleetwood Mac, “Landslide”
Sing chorus: “Well, I’ve been afraid of changin’ / ‘Cause I’ve built my life around you / But time makes you bolder / Even children get older / And I’m gettin’ older too”
Cybersecurity:
- With so many working remotely and the flood of emails regarding COVID-19, cybersecurity diligence is even more important. We are hearing of a significant uptick in phishing and other attacks. IT will be sending an email soon on how you can do your part.
A Note from EBMS:
- First, as you may have heard, Montana joined 21 other states in declaring a “Stay-at-Home” directive. This directive allows for only essential business to continue, and is adopting the federal definitions of essential business. All EBMS functions including TPA services, miCare, miRX, and EBMS Re all qualify as essential business in the state. This begins at midnight tonight, and we do not anticipate any operational disruption by this directive. Second, EBMS remains fully operational and is fully able to meet all of our clients’ and members’ needs. We have about 20 TPA employees that will remain in the Billing, MT Operations Center to take care of critical functions that require them to be on site. In addition, miRX and miCare clinics are fully staffed as required. The rest of the staff is working remotely.
Cowlitz County’s COVID Hotline:
- Cowlitz DEM has established a COVID-19 hotline for general information and also to report businesses or people not following the Stay at Home, Stay Safe Order 1.888.683.8676
Don’t forget:
- As a result of closing the office to the public, the postcard mailing to our over 51,000 service addresses and the overall hardship that COVID-19 is having on some of our customers, our Customer Service Representatives are inundated with customer calls. Please be considerate of any internal requests you have for CSRs during this time and if you have a truly urgent need, give them a call as they are not able to regularly monitor email. Thank you!
- The Credit Union is open for business Monday through Friday 8-4, we ask that members call ahead so we can have the transaction ready in advance 360-501-9500
- Entering/Exiting the Main Office: With the closure of the Drive-thru, we are expecting an increase in the use of the Kiosk area for customers. Please use alternate entry doors into the building to avoid the high public traffic area at the main lobby entrance. Employees may enter using the ramp door, Commerce Ave. door near Credit Union/Engineering, or the Customer Service/Garage door on 12th Ave.
- The courtyard gate will be unlocked by Customer Service at 8:00AM and should remain unlocked during business hours for emergency evacuation. The reception desk will have a key for that gate.
- We continue to have a healthy workforce. We do not have any employees out for COVID reasons.
- Non-essential employees, during normal work hours, are to remain at their primary residence, ready to work and fit for service, while essential employees may be required to report to work. While on Pandemic Leave employees will be paid their regular wages, on Paid Administrative Leave status or regular time if working remotely. While some employees may be at home initially, all employees need to be prepared to report to work if called in by your supervisor.
- We will continue to use our TFCC Communications that will send a text message to all employees notifying of any important changes.
- All supervisors have a phone contact list to get in touch with employees. Please make sure you have your supervisor’s contact information in case you need to reach out.
- If you have any questions about Pandemic Leave, your work schedule, or the newly implemented timesheet coding, please reach out to your supervisor.
City/County Update:
Health
- 10 confirmed cases; 116 negative tests (actual number of tests is quite a bit higher)
Cowlitz PUD Blog 