Navigating How to Give Back in the World of COVID-19

May 13, 2020 | Staying on Top, UpstateVibe365

Alex Moore, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications, United Way of the Piedmont

by Alex Moore, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications, United Way of the Piedmont

In this new world of COVID-19, we are all seeing a lot of good deeds and outpouring of support. Much of the world is doing their best to make lemonade out of these pandemic-flavored lemons. From personal gift baskets and collections for frontline healthcare workers, nonprofits who need our help “now more than ever,” individuals sewing masks and donating goods, there’s a lot of good happening. However, there’s still so much need right now it can be hard to know where or how to do some good.

For United Way of the Piedmont’s part, we’ve focused on doing what we do best: convening partners, informing the community, and finding solutions to problems as they arise. United Way of the Piedmont (UWP) covers Spartanburg, Cherokee, and Union Counties, and we have been holding weekly check-in calls for each county to assess needs and resources. We have also been providing direct service through our Community Resource Coordinators who serve as our boots on the ground, connecting families to resources and providing financial assistance.

This financial assistance comes directly from UWP’s United for All Fund, which is a disaster relief fund that has been activated in response to COVID-19. The fund directly supports individuals and families in Spartanburg, Cherokee, and Union counties through the Community Resource Coordinator program. Funds are primarily used to support families who have lost wages due to COVID-19 with expenses like rent/mortgage, utilities, and food.

Since beginning this work in mid-March, UWP Community Resource Coordinators have assisted more than 125 households with assistance related to COVID-19. Of these families, 52% have never received assistance before. Currently, we are averaging two calls for assistance per hour which represents a steady increase over the past several weeks. We anticipate the need will continue to grow and we will continue to see the economic effects of COVID-19 on families in new and unique ways.

However, we are not alone in this work. While United Way is a global brand, there are 25 United Ways that operate at a local level across the state. Each United Way is responding differently according to the capacity of their organization and the needs of their community. Below is a list of the United Ways in the Upstate with links to their websites:

• United Way of Anderson County
• United Way of Greenville County
• United Way of Greenwood & Abbeville Counties
• United Way of Laurens County
• United Way of Oconee County
• United Way of Pickens County
• United Way of the Piedmont

Not every community has a United Way or even a large number of nonprofits, but they still have people who need help. To address needs at a statewide level, the One SC Fund has been activated in response to COVID-19. The One SC Fund: COVID-19 Response is a partnership between SC Grantmakers Network, Together SC, and the United Way Association of SC. The funds will be held at Central Carolina Community Foundation. The funds deployed will enhance the efforts already underway in several counties and regions across South Carolina and will be used to address gaps in the response efforts, including support for communities that lack resources or an organized philanthropic response. The One SC Fund also provides an easy way to donate for companies or individuals who wish to make a statewide impact due to having multiple facilities in multiple locations.

Whatever your passion or desired impact, there’s an organization or fund out there to help you make that impact. And for our part at United Way of the Piedmont, we consider it our job, but really our privilege, to help you connect to those organizations.

A Conversation with Angie Gossett of BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina

May 13, 2020 | Staying on Top, UpstateVibe365

Angie Gossett, Greenville Regional Marketing Director, BCBS of SC

by Angie Gossett, Greenville Regional Marketing Director, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, with Sharon Purvis

BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina has been offering medical benefits to South Carolinians for more than 70 years and is one of the largest employers in the state. The company is also a major supporter of community and charitable organizations, including Ten at the Top. As the pandemic crisis unfolded, BCBS of SC mobilized to support its members and providers, but also communities across the state, providing funding for food for seniors as well as PPEs for doctors’ offices.

Q: Catriona Carlisle of Meals on Wheels Greenville told us in last week’s TATT Chat about a program that is funded by BCBS to feed seniors in 15 counties in South Carolina. Which other Upstate counties does that cover, and how did that partnership come about?

BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina has had a very long association with Senior Resources. We recognize that Seniors are a vulnerable population and based on data from the South Carolina Department on Aging there are roughly 200,000 South Carolinians over 60 years of age who are food insecure. The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically increased the number of affected individuals. We saw an immediacy to the need and we wanted to do what we could to help. Through BlueCross and the BlueCross Foundation, we are providing nearly $1.6 million to expand Senior Resources’ emergency senior nutrition program, which is giving five free meals weekly to eligible homebound elderly. This contribution is anticipated to provide 245,000 meals. Through this model, we are able to assist seniors in Richland, Anderson, Clarendon, Lexington, Barnwell, Calhoun, Fairfield, Greenville, Horry, Kershaw, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg and Williamsburg counties.

Q: As someone who is covered by BCBS, I received an email explaining that I can access a free telehealth consultation through BCBS (using my membership number). What has been the response to that? Have a lot of people used this benefit?

With the Stay At Home order and the need to socially distance from others, we recognized that members likely would not feel comfortable going to the doctor’s office, so we are supporting both of these efforts and offered for anyone to use our special coupon code with our telehealth product Blue CareOnDemand. When members use the coupon code, COVID19, they can access a telehealth provider at no cost until June 1. This code allows for a member to have a video visit, regardless if the visit is related to COVID-19 or for another reason such as urgent care, behavioral health, or lactation consulting. When we made this option available, we saw a spike in utilization, which meant longer wait times for those calling in; however, the wait times have decreased as more providers have been added to be able to assist members with these services.

Q: Does BCBS have a role in COVID-19 testing?

BlueCross BlueShield is not administering COVID-19 testing; however, we are covering testing and the associated visit at no cost to the member. We are also waiving any pre-authorizations for members with COVID-19-related conditions and treatment. For our fully insured employer group customers, we are also waiving out-of-pocket costs for members with COVID-19 related services with in network providers. If a member has questions about how we are covering COVID-19 services for their plan, they should call the number on the back of their ID card.

Q: What other initiatives has BCBS launched to help with the COVID-19 outbreak in South Carolina?

We have donated $100,000 to the Red Cross and are encouraging employees who feel comfortable donating blood to find their local blood bank to help support the local blood shortage.

Q: Have there been unexpected impacts on your company and industry that people may not know about?

BlueCross BlueShield is considered an essential company, so when the Stay At Home order went into effect, we quickly made changes to support this effort through moving employees to a work from home status or staggering shifts to maintain social distancing while still maintaining the service levels that our providers and members have come to expect from us.

Q: What partnerships has BCBS formed to help with the pandemic that may seem surprising?

BlueCross BlueShield collaborated with the Charleston County Medical Society to help coordinate delivery of 300,000 pieces of personal protection equipment (PPE) that independent physicians and medical practice representatives had pre-ordered. This effort, dubbed Action PPE South Carolina, came about because of the lack of access to PPE for physicians and medical personnel practicing in clinics and small or independent practices. Since priority to PPE was given to hospital systems and government agencies, it meant that doctors and their staffs had to create their own solution, and the Charleston County Medical Society and BlueCross were pleased to help. We know that these practices are seeing our members too, and the safety of our providers and members is important to us.

Q: Is there anything else you would like people to know about what BCBS is doing during the pandemic?

We have had many employees volunteering outside of their normal jobs during the pandemic through various activities. They have been making masks to donate, assisting others to get needed supplies, delivering groceries to those unable to get out and providing financial support to those organizations who are being negatively impacted. Through our outreach we are touching members, providers, and the community. We have been doing our part and stepping up as we always do as a good corporate citizen in our support of vulnerable citizens.

Zooming In on Job Interviews

May 6, 2020 | Staying on Top, UpstateVibe365

Ellen Pate, Assistant Vice President for Student Wellness an Career Development, Southern Wesleyan University

by Ellen Pate, Assistant VP for Student Wellness and Career Development, Southern Wesleyan University, with Ed Welch, Director of Communications, Southern Wesleyan University

Unemployment rates have spiked in response to COVID-19 related business shutdowns, leaving many faced with a return to job hunting.

For those who have lost jobs after many years of employment, the new job landscape may seem like uncharted territory, especially with technology that has replaced face-to-face interviews.

According to the Southern Wesleyan University Career Services Center, video interviews were already becoming more commonplace because of employers wishing to save time and money when interviewing job candidates. More and more, Zoom and similar digital platforms are being relied upon, not just because of cost savings, but because of the current climate of quarantining and social distancing.

“One of our goals during this chaotic season is to empower job seekers to know how to adapt strategies such as practicing your skills for virtual interviews versus face-to-face,” said Ellen Pate, assistant vice president of student wellness and career development at Southern Wesleyan. Pate stresses that job seekers should plan a video interview in the same way as with any other job interview, since video interviews can carry the same weight as an in-person interview.

The Southern Wesleyan University Career Services Office provides these interview preparation tips:

• Get ready early, understand how the equipment works and software and test it out by doing a dry run with a friend or family member. The better you understand the equipment, the more comfortable and confident you will be.
• Set up the camera so it focuses on you. If you can get a tight head/shoulders shot, this is best. Try to keep other objects out of the shot, or the viewers may get distracted if the area is cluttered.
• Make sure the microphone is near you but be conscious of it. Because microphones built into computers, phones and tablets can be sensitive, small noises can be very loud on the other end; microphones can pick up the sounds of a foot tapping or paper shuffling.
• Minimize background distractions in the area directly behind or to the sides of where you’ll sit (distracting artwork, clocks, windows with activity outside, etc.). If possible, remove any motion, since motion is distracting and may cause distortion as the image is transmitted.
• Dress professionally – the same as for an in-person interview. Try to choose conservative colors and avoid busy patterns or bright whites as they don’t pick up well on cameras. Test it out in advance so you know your look is professional on both sides of the camera.
• Don’t assume that the interviewer will only see your face. You may need to stand up at some point, so be sure you’re dressed professionally from head to toe.

During the Interview:

• The interview process will be the same as an in-person interview. You can expect to be asked the same type of interview questions, so prepare as you would for any other interview. Also, be sure to have several questions prepared to ask the interviewer.
• Try to limit your movements to normal conversational shifts. Don’t play with your hair or use excessive hand gesturing.
• If you are interviewing from your home, make sure any TVs and stereos are off in the background. Also, if you have children/pets/walk-in family or neighbors, make arrangements in advance to keep them from starring in your video interview.
• Eye contact is just as important with a video interview as it is face-to-face. Avoid raising or lowering your eyes/head to the camera, it will be focused on the top of your head. If possible, monitor yourself. Some systems will allow you to keep a “picture-in-picture” of yourself on the screen, so you’ll be able to see what the interviewer sees. You can adjust your position and monitor your body language using this feature.
• Remember to smile. This makes a very pleasant impression on the interviewer.
• If there is more than one interviewer, remember that you cannot “turn towards” someone to indicate who you are addressing, nor can you make eye contact. So get the names of the interviewers in advance, and use their names to indicate who you are focusing on in your responses.
• Non-verbal listening cues become more prominent in a video interview. You will become more aware of the facial expressions of the interviewers and they will be more aware of yours. Try to be more conscious of your expressions. Actively look as though you are interested and listening…they will notice.

Interviewing via video can be to your advantage if you convey a natural comfort level and confidence with the experience. Interviewers know that most people haven’t used video interviewing before, so if you appear confident on camera, it will reflect well on you.

After the interview, remember to thank your interviewers and then send a thank you note stressing your interest in the position.

Pate adds that the Career Services Office wants to connect job seekers with employers they know who are hiring. She urges anyone to follow them on Instagram and Facebook pages and online for video tips, links to resources and current job openings.

Southern Wesleyan University is a Christ-centered, student-focused, faith-filled community that offers inventive learning experiences. The university endeavors to prepare its students to be dedicated scholars and servant-leaders who impact the world for Christ. For details about degree programs, go online to swu.edu.

Making the Workplace Ready for a Post-COVID-19 World

May 6, 2020 | Staying on Top, UpstateVibe365

David Feild, Market President, Colliers International

by David Feild, Market President, Colliers International

Like many companies, we here at Colliers International are turning our attention to how our employees will return to the workplace after abruptly being asked to work from home. COVID-19 initially created challenges as the Upstate workforce quickly pivoted to working remotely. While there will be long-term impacts to the future of workplace, our focus is now turning to the immediate concern: How will we all return to the workplace? Governor McMaster has rescinded his ‘home or work’ order and many organizations are immediately contemplating a return to the office. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has said, “returning to work will be gradual, phased-in and will vary by factors such as location, sector, business type or size, and the health status of workers. It also will require continued social distancing, expanded use of personal protective equipment, and other counter-measures.” Employers are asking questions about the changes they need to make to ensure that the post-pandemic workplace is safe, functional and most importantly, builds trust with their employees. Questions like:

• How will our recent experience with working from home impact the post-COVID workplace?
• What hygiene and cleaning practices need to be put in place to maintain the health and safety of employees?
• What physical changes do we need to make to our space?
• What new behaviors do we need to encourage?
• What are the best practices others are doing to make their workplaces safe?
• How do we build trust with our employees and assure them that our workplaces are safe?

Through extensive research and discussions with our clients around the world, Colliers International has divided the actions that offices will need to take to ready their space for their employees’ return into five categories. The following recommendations represent the current thinking on best practices and immediate actions to be considered.

DESIGN AND SPACE CHANGES 

To help maintain the six-foot social distancing recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), some alterations will need to be made to space layouts and furniture. It should be noted that for the initial return to the workplace, we see most actions as behavior and cleaning related, rather than space changes. A sampling of changes includes:

• Rotate open workstation desks/work surfaces so people do not face each other.
• In areas with six-by-six-feet workstations, occupy every other workstation. This can be rotated on a daily basis for different teams.
• Direct employees to work in alternative work areas like conference rooms, huddle rooms, open collaborative areas, etc. Many have said that since they have mastered the art of virtual meetings, they will turn their conference rooms into assigned work spaces to reduce density in their open workstation areas.
• Install temporary clear plastic panel barriers at the reception desk to separate visitors from receptionist.
• Install tall partitions between desks that face each other. An alternative is to install temporary clear plastic panel partitions to raise lower panel heights to at least 60 inches.

NEW BEHAVIORS

• Educate receptionist to know what to do after interacting with a person who exhibits COVID-19 symptoms.
• Consider a staggered employee arrival and departure plan to limit densities in elevator cabs.
• To reduce touching of door handles, leave office and conference room doors open unless there is an absolute need for privacy.
• Encourage people to collaborate virtually, rather than in a conference room, whenever possible. Ask, “can this meeting be a virtual conference call?”
• Use paper cups and disposable utensils until it is safe to use washable utensils.
• Ask that employees clear the desk they have used of all personal items at the end of each day.

COMMUNICATION AND NAVIGATION

• Install signs to inform visitors of distance rules, hand washing and sanitizing, gathering, queuing at coffee stations and wearing of masks (where required) in public areas.
• Using signage, create one-way, clockwise paths through the space. Tape arrows on the floor to indicate direction.
• In conference rooms, after removing every other seat, put tape markers on floors to indicate safe six-foot clearances between seats.
• Use signs to show that whiteboards cannot be used (due to shared pens) or provide individual pens sets to certain employees.
• Put marks on the floor to indicate safe six-foot queuing distances near copiers.

HYGIENE AND CLEANING

• Empower employees to take care of their own hygiene safety. OSHA’s Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID provides recommendations for new behaviors, safe work practices, personal protective equipment, etc.
• Place dispensers of alcohol-based (60% minimum) hand sanitization prominently throughout the space.
• Discourage employees from using other employee’s phones, desks, offices or other work tools and equipment.
• Provide disposable towels/wipes for employees to clean their work surfaces, task lighting, chair backs and other touchable surfaces in their work area.
• Provide access to trusted health information and provide regular briefings on hygiene.
• Throughout the day, clean door pulls/handles, handrails, elevator buttons, badge readers, appliance handles, light switches, shared common areas, counter tops, snack dispenser controls, sinks and faucets, copiers/fax machines and touchable pads in conference rooms.
• Make cleaning visible throughout the day to help reduce employees stress levels and build trust.
• Each night, clean all touchable surfaces including desktops, task lighting, light switches, chair backs and arms, drawer handles and desk height control.

TECHNOLOGY

• Leverage technology to continue with remote work. This will reduce density to help maintain distancing requirements of the office and enable staggered occupancy of the workplace during different days of the week. Preliminary findings from Colliers’ Global Working from Home survey, launched in March, shows that 80% of employees would like to continue working from home at least one day a week.
• Install touchless door openers at key locations. In bathrooms, install touchless, motion activated faucets, soap dispensers, flushing and paper towel dispensers (or air hand dryers). Consider voice activated elevator controls.
• Use screens to broadcast new workplace hygiene rules.

These are only a sampling of the initiatives companies are taking to get their workplaces ready for their employees’ return. Like you, Colliers is continuing to learn from this unprecedented event. Our collective experiences now will shape the workplace for years to come. Many things will never be what they once were. But the first task in front of us it to safely get back to the workplace and back to working together.