Covid-19
Simplot’s Business Continuity and Vaccine Plan Statement
January 25, 2021
The safety of our customers, employees and the communities where we operate is our highest priority. Our customers and partners are a key part of our critical business activities and we are committed to all of you who share in our purpose to contribute to feeding the world. In these uncertain times, that purpose is more important than ever and we are here to support the critical work of our customers and the entire agriculture industry. With the COVID-19 issue continuing to evolve, we wanted to reiterate what we’re doing to ensure our continued service, health and safety.
We continue to follow, and in many cases exceed the recommendations from the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and local health organizations. The information provided here outlines what we are doing to ensure business continuity as it relates to COVID-19, while also providing clarity on the Company’s position in response to this pandemic. If you have questions not addressed in this document, please let your Simplot contact know.
Business and Supply Chain Continuity:
At the present time, we are not aware of any circumstances arising from the COVID-19 pandemic that will prevent Simplot from fulfilling its contractual commitments to its customers. Our relationship with our customers is very important, as are their relationships with their customers. If circumstances change such that we are no longer able to fulfill our contractual commitments to you because of the COVID-19 pandemic or otherwise, we will let you know as soon as possible, so that you may take appropriate action to protect your interests.
We have implemented the following actions to ensure we continue to meet these commitments:
- The J.R. Simplot Company has deployed a cross-functional team responsible for ensuring our business continuity plans meet existing and ongoing protocols to address the regulatory requirements and best practices related to COVID-19. This includes building and revising action plans and communications to meet existing needs, and planning for potential future scenarios as they unfold.
- The J.R. Simplot Company’s global footprint allows us to mitigate risk and ensure business continuity during times of potential product and supply disruption. Our business continuity processes include contingency plans that use this footprint to defray the impact and ensure continued service during these times. We are confident in our ability to meet your needs and will continue closely monitoring the situation for any future potential impact.
- Our contingency planning includes identifying alternate suppliers to support the interim supply of materials, packaging and finished goods, whether sourced domestically or internationally. We will communicate information to impacted customers where necessary.
- The J.R. Simplot Company has restricted business travel to and from a variety of countries to meet or exceed best practices outlined by the Centers for Disease Control’s Travel Health Notices. Simplot has also restricted business travel and visits to only include business-critical travel at all domestic locations. All such travel must be reviewed and approved by Company leadership.
- Simplot employees and contracting workers are obligated to meet quarantine requirements as dictated by their home community, or by Company guidelines, whichever is most restrictive.
- Simplot has also implemented visitor restrictions at all worldwide locations. Only Visitors fulfilling business-critical activities may enter Simplot facilities. Visitors who have recently been to specific countries, as outlined by the CDC, may not enter Simplot facilities regardless of business need. Note: This restriction list is likely to change often; refer to the CDC’s Travel Health Notices for the most recent list. We have included countries with warning levels 1, 2 or 3 in our visitor restriction.
- The safety of our customers, employees and the communities where we operate is our highest priority and we will continue to follow or exceed all regulatory requirements and take appropriate steps to maintain this standard with respect to coronavirus.
- Our communicable disease policy addresses employee requirements during potential disease outbreaks and requires that employees do not enter the workplace if they are sick. Everyone who enters a Simplot facility will have their temperature taken and will be required to answer a series of symptom screening questions as well as questions to identify potential exposure to COVID-19.
- In the event local or national regulatory agencies impose more strict guidelines related to communicable disease, or specific to the coronavirus, we will adopt practices that meet or exceed those guidelines.
- Simpot has implemented 3+1 Guidelines which are posted at every location and used in all communications to remind and reinforce. These guidelines address requirements around physical distancing, face masks, cleanliness and monitoring your health.
- Our employee education efforts include information about how to reduce the risk of exposure to and contracting COVID-19, both while working and when away from work, and clear direction on how to respond if an employee is sick or feels they have been exposed to the virus. This information is available not only to employees, but to all visitors to our facilities.
- The Company is actively monitoring the vaccine distribution plans at the federal and state level, as well as within each health district where we have operations. Many Simplot employees fall into an early vaccination category that includes essential workers in the food and agriculture industry.
- Based on the current limited availability of vaccines, the Company will not be mandating our employees be vaccinated. We will continue to monitor availability of the vaccine and any need for mandatory vaccines as this situation develops. We are, however, strongly encouraging everyone get vaccinated, and to check with their healthcare provider if they have concerns about the vaccine.
- We are actively investigating opportunities for on-site vaccination clinics to make the vaccine available to as many employees as possible. We are also developing tools to help educate our employees on the benefit of receiving the vaccination, to help encourage vaccinations. Monitoring:
- We will continue to monitor this situation and gather information from the CDC (http://www.cdc.gov)., the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (http://www.fda.gov) and the World Health Organization (http://www.who.int).