Our New Normal, Together
As the world works to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, our thoughts are foremost with those already ill from the virus and those on the frontlines, slowing its spread. The bravery and commitment of healthcare workers everywhere is an inspiration.
While Viget’s physical offices are effectively closed, we’re continuing to work with our clients on projects that evolve by the day. Viget has been working with distributed teams to varying degrees for most of our 20-year history, and while we’re comfortable with the tools and best practices that make doing so effective, we realize that some of our clients are learning as they go. We’re here to help.
These are unprecedented times, but our business playbook is clear: Take care of each other. We’re in this together.
Our People Team is meeting with everyone on our staff to confirm their work-from-home situation. Do they have family or roommates they can rely on in an emergency? How are they feeling physically and mentally? Do they have what they need to be productive? As a team, we’re working extra hard to communicate. Andy hosts and records video calls to answer questions anyone has about the crisis, and our weekly staff meeting schedule will continue. Recognizing that our daily informal group lunches are a vital social glue in our offices, Aubrey has organized a virtual lunch table Hangout, allowing our now fully-distributed team to catch up over video. It ensures we have some laughs and helps keep us feeling connected.
Our project teams are well-versed in remote collaboration, but we understand that not all client projects can proceed as planned. We’re doing our best to accommodate evolving schedules while keeping the momentum on as many projects as possible. For all of our clients, we’re making clear that we think long-term. We’re partners through this, and can adapt to help our clients not just weather the storm, but come through it stronger when possible. Some clients have been forced to pause work entirely, while others are busier than ever.
Viget has persevered through many downturns -- the dot com crash, 9/11, the 2008 financial crisis, and a few self-inflicted close-calls. In retrospect, it’s easy to reflect on how these situations made us stronger, but mid-crisis it can be hard to stay positive. The consistent lesson has been that taking care of each other -- co-workers, clients, partners, community peers -- is what gets us through. It motivates our hard work, it focuses our priorities and collaboration, and inspires us to do what needs to be done.
I don’t know for certain how this crisis will play out, but I know that all of us at Viget will be doing everything we can to support each other as we go through it together.
