A Note from Our Chief Executive Officer

"The COVID-19 (Coronavirus) has confronted all of us with the challenges of a rapidly evolving global pandemic. This situation demands us to be compassionate and committed to keeping our employees and communities safe today while continuing to serve our customers and maintain our business for the long term.

 At Wilsonart, we are facing into these challenges. We have implemented a significant multifaceted response to the Coronavirus pandemic that places the health and safety of our employees as the highest priority. Our global teams are working tirelessly through the complexities presented in each region and rapidly responding. We review the situation daily and adjust our plans to meet the evolving COVID-19 guidelines as set forth by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the requirements of orders issued by government and local health authorities. In addition, as we see reductions in customer demand, we are taking the necessary steps to adjust our operations and cost structures accordingly. While this is a difficult time, our focus remains on ensuring our employees, customers and our business remain healthy over the long-term.

Thank you to our employees, customers, and communities for playing a major role in our past, present, and future success. Like all of you, I look forward to the end of this crisis, and then focusing on growing our business."

— Tim O’Brien, Chief Executive Officer

 

Complying with Global Government Mandates & Essential Business for Critical Infrastructures

Local, state and national governments across the globe are responding to the threat of COVID-19 by, among other mandates, requiring offices and other facilities to shut down, imposing shelter-in-place, or requiring remote work activities. In most of these orders, officials have designated certain businesses as “essential” and, therefore, exempt from such restrictions.

Most of Wilsonart's manufacturing and distribution facilities locations impacted by government directives have been deemed "essential business", because we manufacture or distribute products that are necessary to support critical infrastructure and industries, like healthcare, research laboratories, government buildings, and commercial facilities such as grocery stores and pharmacies. Our products also serve the ability to repair and build new homes and other residential structures that are necessary for the continued safety of citizens throughout the country.

For additional information on Essential Business for Critical Infrastructures, visit https://www.wilsonart.com/connected/our-plan-our-commitment-our-actions.

 

Focusing on the Health and Safety of Our Employees

Wilsonart is committed to meeting the COVID-19 guidelines set forth by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the requirements of orders issued by regional, state, and local health authorities. Our significant, multifaceted response to COVID-19 places the safety and wellbeing of our employees as the highest priority and includes, but is not limited to:

  • Communications campaign directed to employees, providing current information and educating about personal health precautions
  • Suspension of international business travel and limited domestic travel
  • Work-from-home programs for employees that can do their jobs remotely
  • Enhanced cleaning procedures implemented at all facilities
  • Strict social-distancing policies [that are regularly monitored]
  • Signage and visual cues as constant reminders of safety protocols
  • Limited access and entry screenings before allowing access to any of our facilities

For employees who are not able to work-from-home and who must continue working in one of the Wilsonart facilities, we have taken safety measures in addition to those listed above that include, but is not limited to:

  • Temperature screening upon entry to ensure an employee does not have a fever of 100.4oF or higher*
    • *Procedure to be implemented at all locations as thermometers that have been ordered become available
  • Recommendation to voluntarily wear a face covering, such as a bandana, scarf, fishing buff, etc., as an added layer of protection*
    • Surgical facemasks will be available for employees as supplies that have been ordered become available
  • Voluntary quarantine programs for any employee that thinks they may have been exposed to the virus

We have taken every measure to ensure the health and safety of our workforce and continue to look for additional steps we can take to ensure our employee's safety and the safety of the communities we serve. As governments make additional recommendations or update precautionary measures, Wilsonart is committed to responding accordingly.

 

Delivering on Our Commitments to Customers & Business Continuity

We are working at every level to execute existing local business continuity plans to ensure that our operations are being maintained effectively and safely to meet our customers' needs, minimize disruption, and deliver on our commitments.

Wilsonart continues to operate and supply customers where permissible. We are monitoring our raw material inventory levels and taking additional measures to mitigate any business interruption.

Wilsonart's global preparedness plan is currently in effect to ensure effective responsiveness to the impact of COVID-19 for a wide variety of contingencies. We have created a COVID-19 Task Force that meets daily to discuss new developments and adjusts plans accordingly to accommodate new information in a rapidly changing environment.