Wednesday 13-May Update

This Site is for Sitel employee communication.

Influenza A(H1N1) Pandemic Status:

• The World Health Organization status is available at http://www.who.int/en/
• We have reports from Sitel personnel of cases in cities where Sitel has offices; we have NO reports of cases involving Sitel personnel.
• Mexico has downgraded the emergency to orange (from red).
• The Ministry of Health is now raising awareness in Panama.
• Sitel's "awareness and preparedness" approach continues.

Monterrey MX and all Panama Site Status:

• Site Operations for all Clients continue to be stable.
• We have assigned a Project Manager to facilitate the multi-site and IT Teams, in case a full implementation of the Site / Client BCP is required.
  

Recommendations for Americas Sites:

• Communicate proactively with Clients and Personnel.
• Implement recommended prevention measures.
• Be alert for cases in your area.
• Monitor absenteeism. Our greatest risk is to not be prepared, if absenteeism increases.
• Prepare plans for Client support in the event of increased absenteeism.
• If there is a need to implement a business continuity plan that requires support from other Sitel sites and disciplines, please make a request for a Project Manager from the PMO.
  

Monday 4-May Update

This Site is for Sitel employee communication.

Influenza A(H1N1) Pandemic Status:

• The World Health Organization status is available at http://www.who.int/en/
• We have reports from Sitel personnel of cases in cities where Sitel has offices; we have NO reports of cases involving Sitel personnel.
• Mexico has downgraded the emergency to orange (from red).
• Sitel's "awareness and preparedness" approach continues.

Monterrey MX Site Status:

• Site Operations for all Clients continue to be stable.
• We have assigned a Project Manager to facilitate the multi-site and IT Teams, in case a full implementation of the Site / Client BCP is required.

Recommendations for Americas Sites:

• Communicate proactively with Clients and Personnel.
• Implement recommended prevention measures.
• Be alert for cases in your area.
• Monitor absenteeism. Our greatest risk is to not be prepared, if absenteeism increases.
• Prepare plans for Client support in the event of increased absenteeism.
• If there is a need to implement a business continuity plan that requires support from other Sitel sites and disciplines, please make a request for a Project Manager from the PMO.

Friday 01-May Update

This Site is for Sitel Internal Communication, and should not be shared externally. It is recommended you cut and paste general elements into a Client specific communication, and supplement with Site and Client specific plans.

Influenza A(H1N1) Pandemic Status:

• While the media continues to announce cases in the US, the World Health Organization published number of confirmed US cases has not changed since yesterday.
• We have reports from Sitel personnel of cases in cities where Sitel has offices; we have NO reports of cases involving Sitel personnel.
• School closures are reported in Texas. School closures are intended to help with containment; school closures may create increased absenteeism.
• Sitel's "awareness and preparedness" approach should continue.

Monterrey MX Site Status:

• Site Operations for all Clients continue to be stable.
• We have assigned a Project Manager to facilitate the multi-site and IT Teams, in case a full implementation of the Site / Client BCP is required.

Recommendations for Americas Sites:

• Communicate proactively with Clients and Personnel.
• Implement recommended prevention measures.
• Be alert for cases in your area.
• Monitor absenteeism. Our greatest risk is to not be prepared, if absenteeism increases.
• Prepare plans for Client support in the event of increased absenteeism.
• If there is a need to implement a business continuity plan that requires support from other Sitel sites and disciplines, please make a request for a Project Manager from the PMO.

Sitel Media Contacts

For Europe, please contact our PR department in Europe via email at pr-emea@sitel.com or specifically email Joe.Doyle@sitel.com. You may reach us via phone also +44 (0)1923 689681.

For North and Central America contact our America’s PR department via email at pr-na@sitel.com or specifically email Andrew.Kokes@sitel.com. You may reach us via phone also +1 (615) 301 7116.

For the rest of the world, please contact Amit Shankardass at amit.shankardass@sitel.com or +1 (615) 301 7274.

Preparedness at potential high-risk sites

(April 30, 2009) - at this point of time Monterrey, Mexico

• We are taking this situation seriously and have taken several steps to ensure awareness and preparedness at the site.
• We conduct regular in-site communication. As a result, our associates know that management is aware, and is taking steps to maintain health and minimize the spread of this infection.
• We have made provision for anti-bacterial solutions and surgical masks at the site; employees consider this provision as highly valuable.
• We are tracking absenteeism against historic trends. This gives us insight into whether we might need to implement our full scale business continuity plans for the site.
• Site and IT Teams ready to implement business continuity plans, if absenteeism trends indicate the need.
• As government agencies, or the government itself, provide guidance and governance, we will abide by those mandates to ensure the safety of our associates.

General Sitel Preparedness

• Sitel has already originated an "awareness and preparedness" planning program at the first announcement of the pandemic risk. In short, we are ready and are planning.
• We have distributed several messages to our management and associates worldwide in order to educate and create awareness about protection from this infection.
• We have distributed recommendations for best practices to maintain health and minimize the spread of this within our centers.
• Site teams in the path of this pandemic are mobilizing plans for absenteeism that might result from the pandemic.
• Similarly, IT teams have been mobilized to support Site and Client specific plans.

Background

The World Health Organization (WHO) raised its pandemic alert for Influenza A(H1N1) to the second highest level Wednesday, meaning that it believes a global outbreak of the disease is imminent. Phase 5 is characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region. While most countries will not be affected at this stage, the declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.