INTERNAL ARTICLE
March 13, 2020
COVID-19 - Every Person Matters
An excerpt from David Zachry's Dear Readers (letter to employees) from Employee Newsletter, Zachry Advantage, Issue 1, 2020.
As we prepared to go to print on this issue, the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) began dominating the news and will likely begin to dominate many aspects of our business, professional and personal lives. Our company has faced great challenges before and each time has emerged stronger from it. This resiliency has one fundamental and unchanging element – our people. And so, as I write to recognize our professional leadership development program, I am reminded that real leadership shows itself not only in formal, structured job titles and training, but also in the quiet and everyday decisions and interactions among coworkers and teams at our projects, plants, properties, shops and offices
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We are all facing an uncertain future that includes the possibility of significant disruption due to the COVID-19 virus. In such an environment, the role of our leaders becomes even more important. Leaders demonstrate respect for others by treating everyone in ways that recognize the inherent value and intelligence of the people who look to her or him for guidance, advice and direction. Our employees and team members are smart and deserve our honesty – they can handle the truth. They may be afraid for their own health or for people they love. They may be concerned about whether there will be work opportunities or a recession. We have an obligation to listen to those concerns and to act in accordance with our Corporate Values. We have limitations and cannot do everything, and people understand that, but we will not choose to do nothing.
Our Values support us and guide us. Every person really does matter, whether they work with us or not. Together we really can, and will, do great things. Finally, and most importantly at this time, this really is more than a job. I am absolutely confident that we will get through the current challenges stronger than ever. We will remain on the great trajectory that we have all been working so hard to achieve. And we will do it together.
Please take care of yourself and each other.
David