A Message from SEB Regarding COVID-19 Response and Readiness Plan

In light of recent reports about COVID-19 in Canada, we would like to remind you of SEB’s commitment to our clients and partners.

Although the risk of exposure for Canadians is currently deemed low by the Public Health Agency of Canada, we fully recognize the threat posed by the virus may be causing anxiety to your organization. Understanding the potential for mental and physical strain associated with recent reports, we would like to reassure you that SEB is fully committed and taking all necessary precautions to continue providing you with exemplary and uninterrupted service.

As part of SEB’s Business Continuity Plan (BCP), we have implemented processes and governance to ensure continuous service delivery:

1. SEB’s workforce is cross-trained to support functions outside their regular scope of duties to cover any potential absences, and we have support for leaders and other critical roles in multiple Canadian locations;
2. SEB supports flexible work arrangements, allowing employees to work remotely as needed;
3. SEB’s BCP is reviewed on an annual basis to ensure that it’s relevant for any potential threats, ensuring that our policies reflect best practices for and not limited to: governance around crisis management, central functions, business support functions, data recovery and contact centre availability;
4. SEB conducts internal and external risk level assessments (vendors and third-party suppliers) to mitigate risks wherever possible and eliminate single point failures;
5. SEB established a COVID-19 Crisis Management Team that consists of members from the leadership teams of the various functional areas of the Business, Technology and HR that are available around the clock to monitor and support day-to-day operations

Workplace Health and Wellness

The health and safety of our workforce is our top priority. We would like to share the precautions we are taking at our offices as we continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 worldwide.

1. Local facility restrictions for guests include signs posted at respective front desks across all locations.
2. All guests attending meetings in SEB facilities are to sign in and notify the front desk attendant immediately if they have recently travelled to an affected region or have been in contact with someone who has recently travelled to an affected region within 14 days. Anyone hosting a meeting is required to notify all attendees of these precautions before they arrive at the SEB office location.
3. Anyone who displays symptoms or encounters anyone who has displayed symptoms such as fever, sneezing, coughing and trouble breathing, are required to see a doctor immediately and notify HR. SEB is supported by EQ Care – our virtual health care provider, allowing 24/7 access to services that keeps staff out of doctors offices and hospitals during initial identification of illnesses. For more details on EQ Care, please contact your SEB Account Representative. Anyone who previously displayed symptoms will be required to provide a doctor’s note of clearance before returning to the office.
4. Anyone who has recently travelled to an affected region must stay at home upon return and notify HR.
• Work from home
• Avoid public places
• Do not take public transit
• Do not have visitors

Preventative Measures

There are some simple measures that you can take to reduce the risk of infection or spreading infection to others. Read the Public Health Canada Prevention guide here.

Washing your hands is the most important thing we can all do to reduce the transmission of diseases. Thoroughly wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer can be an alternative when water is not available, so it’s a good idea to bring a travel bottle with you as well to ensure that you’re able to sanitize frequently.

It’s important to avoid as much contact with your face as possible in order to reduce the risk of infection. This is crucial if you haven’t been able to wash your hands recently. If you are sick, it’s important to stay home from work and avoid highly-populated areas, including public transit. Be mindful of others by avoiding places where people are more susceptible to infections, like senior residences and hospitals.

When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth with the inside of your elbow to limit the spread of infection, while also keeping your hands clear. Do not forget to wash your hands!

Most people will get better on their own as the virus runs its course. You should also call your doctor or local health authority to seek advice if you are ill and your condition worsens.

Additional Resources

Public Health Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html

World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus

COVID-19 Information Canadian Phone Line: 1-833-784-4397