Homes By DeSantis Inc. is committed to the health and safety of its employees, as well as trade contractors, suppliers, consultants, owner representatives and others when they are at our head office or on our construction sites.
In light of ongoing events surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, Homes By DeSantis Inc. has established specific protocols and policies that must be followed. Please be advised that given the unique nature of our business we have established specific protocols for both our sites and our head office. Our Management Team has implemented and continues to update protocols and policies for health and safety and preventative measures and continues to monitor the situation on a daily basis.
The following protocols and policies have been implemented and must be followed at all offices:
In the Corporate Office/Sales Office/Décor Studio
- Social/Physical Distancing: Social distancing protocols as recommended by the government are to be implemented and followed. Maintain a 10-person max. whenever possible. No workers are to be working within 6 ft of each other at any time, unless a specific emergency or safety need is required that overrules this situation
- Face Masks/Shields: Any visitor to the office is expected to wear a face covering when inside the establishment. The face covering must cover your nose, mouth and chin, without
Some people cannot wear a mask for various reasons and are exempt from wearing a face covering. Proof of exemption is not required.
The following people are exempt from wearing a mask or face covering under the Instructions:
- Children under the age of two years
- Children who cannot understand the need for a mask, refuse to wear a face covering and cannot be persuaded to do so by their caregiver
- A person who is unable to put on or remove their face covering without assistance
- A person whose breathing would be inhibited in any way by wearing a face covering
- A person who, for any other physical or mental health medical reason, cannot safely wear a face covering. This includes, but is not limited to people with respiratory disease, cognitive difficulties, difficulties in hearing or sensory processing disorders,
- A person for whom a religious reason prevents them from wearing a face covering that is compliant with the definition of face covering in these
Note – ‘Person’ means any customer, patron, employee or visitor, who enters the premises.
These Instructions are intended to decrease risk for our community on a population level by requiring mask use of those who can wear masks in the community setting.
HBD fully understands and expects that some people cannot wear masks.
- Upon arrival, all staff & visitors must answer a COVID-19 Assessment questionnaire. (Employees are to fill out their own, visitors are to answer screening questions while employee fills out document). All visitors MUST wear a mask – if they do not have one, we will
- If an employee or a person they have come in close contact within the last 14 days is experiencing any illness symptoms, that employee must not come to work and must adopt self- isolation measures and follow the recommendations of Health Ontario in that regard. HR is to be notified within 24 hours if this does occur
- Anyone who has been out of the country must self-quarantine for 14 days, regardless of whether or not they are showing
- Absolutely no car-pooling.
- Those driving company owned vehicles MUST fill out Daily Vehicle Sanitization Log and keep log in vehicle. Copy of logs is to be submitted to HR at the end of each
- Those who must work from home will continue to do
- Staggered work schedules, breaks and lunch breaks are to be exercised to minimize the number of people who may be using communal facilities at one
- Lunch breaks are to be taken at the employees’ workspace rather than in a communal Lunchroom/boardroom.
- Workstations should be spread out as much as
- Office equipment such as phones, keyboards, and desks should be sanitized daily as often as possible, and especially at end of each work- day. Every employee shall be responsible for their own
- Sharing of personal items is to be avoided (i.e. pens, pencils, passing documentation, )
- Any employee conducting an in-person meeting shall ensure that the area has been fully cleaned and sanitized immediately preceding the meeting
- Communal areas (kitchens, bathrooms, hallways) should be sanitized regularly, including door handles and faucets (espresso machine, stove, microwave, coffee machine, toaster, etc.). Every employee shall be responsible for cleaning/disinfecting these areas after themselves with each
- All departments are to take part in periodic cleaning throughout the
- PPE, hand sanitizer and cleaning products are widely available. If you are running low on supplies, advise Jas right away
- Wash your hands often with soap and water and/or alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- Sneeze and cough into your sleeve
- Avoid touching your face – eyes, nose or mouth
- Avoid contact with people who are sick
- Stay home if you are sick
Responsive Actions in the Event of Office Contamination:
- Notification of the situation to be provided via phone call and email to President, all Management and employees as soon as possible;
- Remove/isolate employee from workplace and determine, to the extent possible:
- Duration of potential contamination;
- Identify employees in direct contact during period of contamination;
- Employee’s whereabouts at workplace during period of contamination;
- Request employees who had direct contact with affected employee to work remotely (to the extent possible) until asymptomatic (minimum 14 days);
- Ensure safe & secure office/site evacuation and shutdown, if required
- Arrange for disinfection of impacted workplace; and
- Communicate to authorities, as
Head Office/Administration
- Upon arrival, all staff & visitors must answer a COVID-19 self-assessment form and strictly adhere to the HBD Health and Safety Protocol/Policy that is currently in
(Employees are to fill out their own, visitors are to answer screening questions while employee fills out document). All visitors MUST wear a mask – if they do not have one, we will provide.
Closings
- All current closing procedures are as-is except that communication and approval of SOA is done via
- Keys: regular protocol of picking up keys at Head Office remains
- In the event a closing does not occur or is at risk of not occurring Serina will notify Gabe and advise the penalty to default buyer and price to list unit for Sales & Marketing will post the unit online and Sales Agents to list on MLS.
Sales Site Staff
- Sales Office is open from 12-5 pm on weekends only
- All visitors must answer a COVID-19 self assessment form.
(Employees are to fill out their own, visitors are to answer screening questions while employee fills out document). All staff/visitors MUST wear a mask – if they do not have one, one will be provided.
- Sales Staff have an existing schedule to monitor their emails, text message and respond remotely. Voicemails can be checked remotely as well and responded to via cell in
- Appointments to be booked 1×1 with potential customers for all unsold units. (+ 1 commercial) Under the condition customer can assure no symptoms or triggers for COVID 19 (such as travel within 14 days)
- Signage includes contact information posted on door of sales office
- Last employee to leave the premises is to ensure all touched surfaces have been cleaned and sanitized.
Décor
- Décor is closed and by appointment only
- All staff & visitors must answer a COVID-19 self assessment
(Employees are to fill out their own, visitors are to answer screening questions while employee fills out document). All staff/visitors MUST wear a mask – if they do not have one, one will be provided.
- Studio connected remotely with access to all files
- Coordination for required site visits will be required as long as production continues on site and safety can be assured
- Urgent reselections will be accommodated on a 1 x 1 basis under the condition customer reselecting can assure no symptoms or triggers for COVID 19 (such as travel within 14 days)
- Signage includes contact information posted on door
- Last employee to leave the premises is to ensure all touched surfaces have been cleaned and sanitized.
Accounts Payable/Receivables and Banking
- The daily banking duties remain the same
Low rise (see page 10) https://www.tarion.com/sites/default/files/2017-07/BB42-Customer-Service- Standard.pdf
Mid-rise & Condo (see page 14) https://www.tarion.com/sites/default/files/2017-07/BB42- Customer-Service-Standard.pdf
Work From Home
- The employee that works from home must maintain daily working routine and complete all works as requested by the President and Senior Management. Voicemail is to be checked remotely on a regular basis
- The employee must attend the office for any urgent matters as requested by the Manager and Senior
- All employees are authorized to go to the office as necessary to complete any work at any time including evenings and weekends as per Manager approval
All employees are to return to work at the office during regular working hours on 19th of June, 2020 OR according to guidelines set out by the Federal/Provincial governments. An exception to these guidelines has been made for those requiring child care services.
Effective Date
June 20th, 2020
Ending Date
On going
We, at Homes By DeSantis have been in business for 60 years and we have thankfully never had to face something as serious as this National Pandemic. It has made us put protocols in place both at head office as well as on all our current construction sites, to comply with all government regulations. Our main focus is to ensure everyone’s safety and we hope that by doing this, we are able to get through this health crisis together.
As we are all aware, providing homes is an essential need and without my team none of this would be possible. I wanted to take this time to express and extend my gratitude to each and every one of you for your loyalty and commitment to our company.
Approved By: Gabriel DeSantis Date: July 20th 2020
Employee’s Working From Home:
Sales and Decor
Serina Carbone,Jenny Rogers
Employee’s Working In Office:
Construction
Eddie Soares, Chirag Nanda, Donna Redford
Administration
Jas Clarke
Accounting
Benny Yu, Michelle Norris, Emily Chen
Development
Fernando Puga
Marketing/Sales
Chiara Campli
Customer Care
Lynn Littleton
Project Management
Kashif Saeed
