HIW Corporate Resiliency Report 2021 FINAL - Flipbook - Page 5
RETURN TO THE OFFICE
Our continued response to the COVID-19 pandemic
is a testament to the resilience and fortitude of our
organization and, most importantly, our talented
team of professionals. Faced with unprecedented
challenges, our coworkers rose to the occasion by
continuing to champion our COVID-19 Response Plan,
adapting to new protocols and work environments
and supporting our customers and communities each
step of the way. This collaborative effort was fortified
by years of risk management and resiliency planning
by our leadership team to position our organization to
successfully navigate this pandemic and prepare for
future challenges.
Our longstanding Business Continuity Plan, which is a
key component of our resiliency management system,
gave us a head start in crafting a holistic COVID-19
response plan. At the onset of the pandemic, we
quickly formalized a cross-functional COVID-19 Crisis
Team and immediately implemented our COVID-19
Response Plan, which we continue to refine as public
health guidance evolves. We maintain immediate
and consistent customer communications through
our emergency broadcast platform, building signage,
direct calls, text messages and emails using our
ServiceLink (Building Engines) work order management
system to communicate potential risks, events
and measures taken by Highwoods to mitigate risk
within our buildings. As we operate a multi-state
portfolio, we continuously monitor national, state
and local guidance in each of our markets and update
our COVID-19 Response Plan and communications
accordingly. At the property level, we focus on
maintaining healthy indoor environments and keeping
our coworkers and customers as safe as possible.
With the introduction of vaccines in 2021 and our
growing knowledge of COVID-19 transmission, we
are encouraged by our customers’ resiliency and
desire to return to the office. We have extensively
prepared for this next step and look forward to
seeing all our customers using their offices to thrive
and grow their businesses.
HIGHWOODS COVID-19 RESPONSE PLAN:
• Employee Engagement and Training
– Highwoods COVID-19 Playbook
– Organization-wide engagement through
Microsoft Teams
– Team updates on the latest development and
COVID-19 risk mitigation efforts
– Company-wide town halls hosted by the CEO
and special guest subject matter experts
• Engineering Controls
– HVAC Fresh Air Adjustments
– Filter Efficiency Upgrades (to MERV 13)
– Replacement of select RTUs to increase
ventilation rates and energy efficiency
(Richmond, Nashville and Raleigh)
– Increased air exchanges
– Temperature monitoring
– Water Management Plan
• Administrative Controls
– Employee low-density occupancy
(staggered work shifts)
– Building signage for social distancing and
face covering
– Enhanced cleaning protocols
– Physical separation in open desk environment
– Elimination of communal items in breakrooms
– Transitioning to “touchless” during renovations
– Paid leave policy (supports staying home
when sick)
• PPE
– Employee training on proper use, fit and
limitation of PPE
– Distribution of PPE
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