By now, you have likely seen tens of statements posted on websites and received in your email box all stating very similar things about employee and customer safety.
We operate from the States of Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. All three States have enacted stay-at-home guidelines that determine who can and cannot go to work. Each State has provisions in its orders that deem “construction” and “building maintenance” as “essential” work. In other words, we can continue helping homeowners in need.
What is essential work?
We have a client who had 4-inches of water in her basement a few weeks ago. We installed new 6″ gutters and MasterShield and Gutter Rx gutter guards on top of the new gutters. We redesigned her gutter system to redirect the water away from the areas of infiltration into her home. She no longer has water in her basement. We installed gutter guards to keep pine needles, twigs, leaves and debris from clogging her gutters so her basement will continue to remain dry.
Based on our interpretation of the definitions issued by the States, this work fell under “building maintenance.” I think you’d agree that having water in your basement for an extended period of time would be unacceptable. We believe the writers of these provisions would agree, too.
With that said, we are taking precautions.
We work outside
Unless our clients follow us up the ladder and onto the roof (few do), it’s easy for our team members to stay 6′ apart. While we have to pick-up supplies from various distributors, most companies, with the exceptions of Home Depot and Lowe’s, have gone to a model similar to drive-thru restaurants. Think McDonald’s for gutter supply. We are buying more material in popular colors than we need in an effort to limit the number of visits we make to our suppliers each week. That helps them and us stay safe.
We have a decentralized work policy
All of our team members are set-up to work from home year round. Everybody has the appropriate electronic devices to do what they need to do. We communicate by text, email, and phone. When we’re on the road, our sales team members generally travel solo. Our installer team work with each other daily and travel in groups of 2 or 3.
We are limiting contact with prospective and current clients
We live in a society where shaking hands and being within a few feet of one another is the norm. It’s taking time for everyone to figure out that distance, in this time or uncertainty, is good.
We’ve had some prospective clients ‘forget’ and reach out to shake our hands when they greet us. Some homeowners have postponed appointments until this blows over. Others have asked us to take measurements and send estimates by email. We can even make virtual presentations with Zoom, Skype, or talk the old fashioned way — on the phone. What a novel concept!
The health and safety of our team members and clients is paramount
This is a fluid situation. At the beginning of February, 2020, most people had never heard of COVID-19. At the beginning of April, more than 1,000,000 people have tested positive worldwide, hundreds of thousands of people have tested positive in the U.S., and there are likely hundreds of thousands more who have symptoms but have not yet been able to access tests. As of this writing, more than 4,000 people have died from Coronavirus in the United States.
When I look back on or you read this post a month, later this year, or several years from now, I suspect those numbers will have risen beyond our wildest dreams.
This brings me to my next point.
We’ll continue working until we determine it is unwise to do so.
I hope we never get to that point, but we employ a democratic work environment in which all our team members have a say. If the States in which we work or the Federal government steps in and takes further action to keep its citizens home, we’ll comply. If our team members get nervous or uncomfortable and decide they want to take a break, they are welcome to do so. If you decide that you don’t want us visiting your home until this outbreak is under control, no problem.
We’ve been helping homeowners and business solve gutter and water problems for 24-years. We plan to continue for the next 24 years and likely 24 years after that. The only way we can do that is if we stay healthy, heed the warnings, and comply with the guidelines.
Coronavirus’ ability to spread with ease is what’s most troubling. I can easily avoid someone who has a cough, the sniffles or the flu because they know it, and know enough to stay away or tell me to stay away. However, COVID-19 lies dormant for days or weeks before its symptoms are felt and known. It’s that incubation period that is so damming. It’s scary and off-putting.
Reach out today, tomorrow or whenever you want
If we can help you today, we will. If you want to wait until the coast is clear, we understand. Bookmark our website, send us an email, give us a call, or text your questions, and we’ll connect virtually or in person when the time is right.
We’ll be here when you’re ready!
Stay healthy. Be well.
Johnathan Skardon
Gutter Guards Direct
