PwC Canada’s response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)
One of PwC Canada’s (PwC) core values is care; care for our people, our communities and our clients. Therefore, a component of our business continuity efforts is around pandemic planning. We believe pandemic planning and response efforts are a continuous cycle of information sharing and teaming with experts to help prevent, contain and recover from infectious diseases and viruses impacting our people and our clients.
While this coronavirus presents new challenges, PwC’s approach to managing external risks remains the same — including our commitment to the safety of our people and having an open dialogue with internal and external stakeholders.
PwC has a well established Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery plan which includes pandemic planning to ensure that the firm can respond and operate within a range of scenarios.
With regards to COVID-19, PwC has taken the necessary steps including travel restrictions as well as equipping our staff with tools they need to work remotely to continue to bring value to your organization.
PwC has taken the following steps to minimise the potential impact:
- The firm has implemented mandatory working from home across all of PwC Canada. Our staff is equipped with tools they need to work remotely to continue to bring value to your organization. The mandatory working from home policy will remain in place until further notice, as the firm continues to evaluate the situation.
- The firm has enforced travel restrictions until further notice.
- We require all of our people to avoid non-essential work travel both within Canada and internationally until further notice.
- PwC people who have travelled outside Canada, whether for business or personal reasons, or come into direct contact with a person confirmed to have COVID-19 are required to isolate themselves at home (other than for seeking medical care), and monitor their health for 14 days.
- PwC has advised any of our people who do not feel comfortable travelling (either domestically or internationally) at this time that they should not do so and alternative arrangements will be made.
PwC’s safeguards:
1. Clients, guests, suppliers and contractors visiting PwC offices in Canada
All PwC Canada offices have moved to ‘restricted for critical core services only’ until further notice.
The Canadian government advises that anyone who has travelled outside Canada must isolate themselves (other than to seek medical advice) and should monitor their health for 14 days.
We ask that our clients, guests, suppliers and contractors follow this advice to ensure their own safety as well as the safety of our other clients, guests, suppliers and contractors, our people and the public.
PwC provides hand sanitizer and disinfectants in all offices to promote a healthy workplace, and we encourage visitors (and our people) to adhere to normal handwashing and hygiene practices. If you are feeling unwell when visiting our offices, please make your PwC host aware so we can support you accordingly.
2. Working with clients to safeguard the health and safety of our people
PwC requests our clients take their own measures to respond to COVID-19, in accordance with official Canadian Government COVID-19 guidelines.
If PwC people at client sites are concerned their host client site is not taking reasonable steps to proactively prevent the spread of COVID-19 so far as it is able, PwC has directed our people to speak with their team leader or project director immediately.
If you are an organisation with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 and PwC clients or people may be affected, we ask that you immediately inform your PwC contact.
About PwC Canada
At PwC Canada, our purpose is to build trust in society and solve important problems. More than 7,000 partners and staff in offices across the country are committed to delivering quality in assurance, tax, consulting and deals services. PwC refers to the Canadian member firm, and may sometimes refer to the PwC network. Each member firm is a separate legal entity. Please see www.pwc.com/structure for further details. Find out more by visiting us at: http://www.pwc.com/ca
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