CEO Mehran Assadi reassured that National Life is open for business and thriving despite the gyrations in the financial markets and the uncertainties of the coronavirus outbreak.
“As long as we stick together through the peaks and valleys of the economic environment and the coronavirus, we’re going to be fine,” Mehran declared in an employee meeting.
But he also made clear that the company has been diligently planning for all circumstances, including financial and personnel.
For years, National Life’s investment portfolio has been managed to minimize risks such as the stock markets have shown especially this week.
The investment team continues to manage National Life’s book of business in a conservative way that reduces risk but also takes advantages of opportunities as they arise.
Elsewhere throughout the company, plans have been under way for some time about how to respond to a pandemic. Those have now been focused on the coronavirus, or COVID-19, pandemic.
A subgroup of the Corporate Emergency Response Team continues to meet at least daily and consults with Mehran and the rest of the Executive Management Team.
Facilities has stepped up cleaning, especially common areas, on both campuses. But Mehran also emphasized that each of us has a role in helping to clean our own work areas and that we need to heed the advice of health professionals.
“We are not immune to this in Dallas or Vermont. It’s going to come,” he said. “Remember, you’re the first line of defense. We know you’re going to do the right thing.”
He encouraged employees to follow the guidance of health professionals: Wash your hands thoroughly and often; stay home and consult a doctor if you feel any signs of a cold or flu; stay in touch with your manager.
“Let your manager know if you’ve come down with the start of the cold and you’re taking care of yourself,” he said. “Coming into the office that’s going to get 20 other people sick is not dedication.”
Employees who need to take time off to take care of family members, or because children’s school is canceled or who are sick should use CTO or CTO-sick time.
If further measures are required as the pandemic develops, the company will address them as necessary.
“We, as a company, will always do the right thing based on the circumstances in front of us,” Mehran said.