To Our NKSFB Family:
We have all made it through week 2 of our “new world” environment, where every aspect of our work processes has been affected during this global COVID-19 pandemic. I am extremely proud of everyone at NKSFB for their efforts and support during these very crazy times. It is clear our work is getting done, and our clients are satisfied with the result. A warm thank you to all employees for this effort.
Yesterday, March 29, 2020, President Trump extended the federal social distancing guidelines to April 30th. I have been thinking there was a possibility that in May we would be back to a somewhat normal life. Because the situation is so fluid and unpredictable, I now urge everyone to be prepared for the fact that the actual date for easing shelter at home restrictions could be as late as June 1. No matter which date ends up being right, it is clear that this current work process we are in will be around for at least another 4 to 8 weeks. We all need to adapt ourselves to this current environment.
I will continue to communicate with you as more information and important facts become public. In the meantime, as we all settle into this new environment of “safe at home” I’m pleased that we have been able to accommodate everyone who has requested the option of operating from home. Overall, our technology issues have been resolved excepting a few outstanding issues, and our IT team has done an amazing job under these extremely challenging times. This has been a learning experience for all of us, and everyone’s patience and diligence has been extraordinary. Our people have been a great example of everyone working together to get through this time.
I have announced that our office will be closed on Wednesdays until further notice. This is so everyone can have more time to spend with their families and to take care of personal things as we all are experiencing a higher level of stress and anxiety about the future. On that note, I would like to remind you to please take advantage of our telehealth services provided for in our health benefit plans, which includes mental health services. The health and well-being of our employees is of the utmost importance to our firm, especially those who are most at risk due to their age group and/or have underlying health issues.
Our doors remain open, as we, an accounting firm providing compliance services required by law as well as tax returns and extensions, under state ordinance is considered a business providing essential services and thus excluded from the order. For those working in the office, please make every attempt to observe the established social distancing rules. We can all contribute to reducing the spread of the virus just by heightened awareness and consideration of our fellow workers. We have implemented the practice of sanitizing our offices nightly in consideration of the safety of our employees, and we encourage employees to disinfect cell phones and tablets frequently.
Thank you, all, for your continued support and dedicated service to our clients. Your loyalty to the firm is appreciated, and I feel that we as a firm need to show our loyalty to you. To that end, I want to address the topic of compensation, which I know is of concern to everyone. All employees can rest assured that you will continue to receive your full paychecks. That includes hourly as well as salaried personnel. If there is an overtime requirement, that will get paid too. I want everyone to know you will be paid your normal paycheck with no reduction at all in compensation regardless of how many hours you work during the next few weeks. If you have any questions, please feel free to see me.
This is a very unique time in our business history, and I want to assure everyone we are taking the necessary steps to provide safeguards for employees and, most of all, that we will get through these challenging times. I believe we will become an even better, stronger and more unified NKSFB. Together.
Be safe, and be healthy.
Best,
Mickey Segal
Managing Partner
