COVID-19: Fiat Chrysler Starts Work from Home, Distances Workers, Prepares for Possible Temporary Factory Shut Downs

It’s not just China that is suffering from COVID-19, the crisis is global.

In a statement this morning issued in London, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles said it is implementing “new measures across its facilities in Italy to support the nationwide campaign addressing the COVID-19 crisis.” As a result of taking these actions the company will, where necessary, make temporary closures of its plants across Italy.

Beyond the measures already taken in support of government directives, FCA said it will act to minimize the risk of spreading the contagion between employees. These include intensive sanitation of all work and rest areas, changing rooms and washrooms. To enable greater spacing of employees at their workstations, daily production rates will be lowered to accommodate the adapted manufacturing processes.

These new measures add to the health and safety initiatives taken by the company as an immediate response to the recent outbreak of the virus in Italy and “constantly communicated to employees through multiple internal channels.”

During February the company started a program to progressively implement ‘Smart Working’ (working from home) to more office-based employees in addition to spacing measures and controlling employee numbers at company cafeterias.

All administrative areas of the company will continue their normal activities in compliance with government directives and regulations and while maintaining the safe distance and hygiene measures introduced immediately upon the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, FCA said.