As the world closely monitors and tracks the spread and impact of the new coronavirus, business leaders are making decisions about how to mitigate the risk and keep everyone safe and healthy. In the government contracting community, executives are enacting procedures and policies to protect employees, customers and partners while continuing to provide government agencies with the services, solutions and mission-critical support they need.
In this series, WashingtonExec will highlight these leaders and how they are tackling this crisis, in an effort to share best practices in industry and shed light on the virus’ impact on the nation.
Michael Niggel, CEO, Advanced Concepts and Technologies International LLC
As the country deals with the spread and impact of COVID-19, Advanced Concepts and Technologies International LLC CEO Michael Niggel said the satisfaction of employees remain the leadership team’s primary focus. Below, he shares how the company continues to support its employees while implementing innovative and strategic policies to protect them.
What innovative workplace policies/practices has your company embraced to minimize the impact of COVID-19?
We’re focusing on ACT I’s agility as we respond innovatively to COVID-19 situation and impacts. We work collaboratively every day across corporate teams located throughout the country using platforms like Microsoft Teams and ACT I corporate workflow tools.
For ACT I, we are embracing the proven systems, synergies and certified ISO/CMMI processes we already have in place. We’ve also looked at how we do business, and where we can support our employees and customers, promoting programs like virtual meetings and social distancing for key face-to-face meetings. We are taking advantage of our ample space and a series of conference rooms to conduct meetings virtually and physically with personnel spread sparsely across a number of spaces.
Finally, with technology solutions already in place that allow for virtual and remote across normal duties, we have embraced individual programs and accommodations that allow our employees to continue to deliver for our customers no matter where they are working and for whatever the duration is required during these uncertain times.
What has your company done to keep morale up internally for employees?
At ACT I, our employees and teams come first. Long before COVID-19 ever impacted our government customers, and long after we’ve emerged from this crisis, ACT I employees have known that their satisfaction is our leadership team’s primary focus. That core principal doesn’t change in light of the coronavirus, so for us, we’ve focused on maintaining our morale as a company by reiterating our commitment to our employees and their families.
Through constant communications, including updates from many different leadership levels, we’ve reminded them of our commitment and that at ACT I, we are a family. We’ve maintained morale by reminding them again this week that the ACT I leadership and family supports them, that their jobs and pay are stable and that even in this period of uncertainty, their company remains unwaveringly committed to them.
How has the policy for travel or attending large conferences changed?
At ACT I, we work closely and communicate daily with our government customers. We partner together for their mission success and follow their guidance across operating guidelines, to include travel and conference participation. At a company level, we have followed the guidance of the federal government, first tracking and now limiting to the maximum extent possible any travel for our team members, with the requisite quarantining upon return from OCONUS work.
Our efforts are in tandem with our ongoing conversation with government and commercial customers across individual contracts to ensure we both understand and properly execute specific guidance on an agency-by-agency basis. It is also a great time for our employees to be with and enjoy their families as well as get back to there ACT I offices for special training and internal updates as well.
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