- As the coronavirus impacts workplaces around the world, Michael Roth, CEO of ad agency holding company IPG, sent a memo to all 55,000 employees saying all its offices will stay open for business, though employees can ask managers to work from home.
- Roth encouraged staff to take steps to comply with local regulations and minimize risk, such as avoiding large meetings and staggering work schedules.
- The update came after one of IPG's agencies, Weber Shandwick, confirmed that two employees at its New York headquarters had been exposed to someone who later tested positive for the virus.
- Other ad holding companies, including Omnicom, Publicis, and Dentsu, have closed offices due to confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus and having people work remotely. WPP is now allowing employees to work remotely.
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With the coronavirus spreading, ad holding company IPG sent a memo to employees saying all of its offices at its 100-plus agencies, most of which are in the US, will stay open.
The company has about 55,000 employees around the world at agencies including McCann, Deutsch, and PR firm Weber Shandwick.
The update arrived after Weber Shandwick confirmed that two employees at its New York headquarters had been exposed to someone who later tested positive for the virus.
CEO Michael Roth's full memo is printed below.
As for other holding companies, WPP also is remaining open while letting employees work remotely. Omnicom, Publicis, and Dentsu have closed offices due to confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus and had staff work remotely.
All IPG offices will remain open, though CEO Michael Roth recommended several steps to minimize risk
Roth encouraged regional leadership to follow local guidelines as they're updated and take additional steps so the offices can operate "with lower population density," such as staggering work schedules or discouraging meetings of 10 people or more.
He also said employees who want to work from home should approach managers and that most major business units have already conducted remote work tests, as ad agency R/GA did on Wednesday.
Read the full memo below.
To All Employees:
With the constantly evolving situation surrounding COVID-19, we are providing you with an update on our work from home policy.
Our major business units have successfully conducted working remotely tests. And our priority remains the safety and well-being of our people, partners and clients. As such, we are encouraging our employees in markets where the COVID-19 virus is spreading, notably in North America and several European markets, who can work from home to talk with their managers about doing so, in order to ensure your well-being and that of your community. Of course, it's also a given that our people must continue to deliver on client and business responsibilities, whether in the office or working remotely, as many of our colleagues in Asia have been doing successfully for some time now.
We want to reiterate that IPG, our companies and all our offices are staying open for business. We are asking regional leadership to follow local guidance and communicate logistical plans to our people - like staggered work schedules - so that offices remain open, but with lower population density.
If your role necessitates that you come into the office, you should talk with your manager to develop a working plan that addresses any concerns you may have, or reach out to your local HR representative.
We have asked all IPG agencies to limit non-essential travel and in-person meetings that involve more than ten people, if the meeting can instead be conducted via video conference or other means. In addition, if you are sick or have recently not felt well, please seek medical attention immediately and do not come into the office. For our New York area employees, there is a new hotline with information about COVID-19, including how to be tested: +1 888-364-3065.
Most important, we want to ensure that all of us continue to act in a way that is consistent with IPG's values, focusing on the facts of the virus rather than fears about particular groups of people or casting blame on particular cultures or nationalities. We encourage everyone to refer to the CDC's guidance on stigma and resilience.
We appreciate all of your cooperation and continued hard work and focus during this especially challenging time.
In the interim, please check our COVID-19 watch page regularly, and please let IPG, your manager or your HR lead know if you have any questions.
Michael Roth
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, IPG