Les Hiscoe | Shawmut Design and Construction CEO
COVID-19 has created challenges few of us could have imagined. While the circumstances are new, Shawmut is still guided by the core values we established when we were founded in 1982. Since the onset of this pandemic, we have leaned on these values, including putting our people first, finding a better way and walking the walk.
Perhaps most essential as we navigate these uncharted waters is ensuring a heightened level of engagement with employees. We know that transparent, frequent and empathetic communication is key to building trust and easing people’s fear and uncertainty. This starts with executive leadership huddles every day that focus on how we ensure our people remain safe.
Next, we worked to enhance our world-class safety program by creating an industry-leading COVID-19 safety protocol plan. We mobilized technologies originally designed to monitor for safety compliance and used them to help manage appropriate social distancing.
We introduced a custom-built technology platform, Shawmut Vitals, that enables digital health screening and contact tracing through job-specific QR codes on every project.
While we are fortunate to have been one of the few essential industries allowed to continue working in Rhode Island, the health and safety of our people have remained our top priority. As the state steps toward reopening, I encourage every business to move at a cadence that allows you to keep the well-being of your people top of mind.
While it may mean moving at a slower pace, it will pay dividends in the long run in a game that is driven by talent and led by our greatest asset – our people.