1. What has PwC done to mitigate impacts to PwC of the widespread outbreak of coronavirus in the US and Mexico?
Our US / Mexico Security team identified four phases to manage the cycle of a potential pandemic threat and the importance of managing timely information. They include:
- Monitoring: Reviewing and monitoring global activities as they relate to the spread of infectious diseases and viruses.
- Detection: Identifying the location and spread of medical cases with consideration given to the pandemic phases defined by the World Health Organization. Collecting data to echo, interpret and translate the information for the firm to allow for effective decision-making and preventive measures.
- Response & Containment: Responding to data, assessing the impact and implementing responsive measures.
- Recovery: Applying business continuity plans to restore normal operations, e.g., staffing levels.
Two of the key aspects of PwC’s pandemic plan are maintaining active staffing levels throughout the pandemic’s duration and working to reduce exposure to the virus. This approach includes the following factors:
- Identifying staffing needs for the next three-, six-, and twelve-month periods, both by business unit and at a national level
- Taking pre-emptive action to reduce pandemic exposure risk
- Leveraging staff across the US to support impacted client service teams
- Understanding the speed of the lifecycle of the infection, from contraction through treatment, to inform our response
- Assessing the availability and success of treatments; providing advice and support to impacted employees
- Understanding the rate of increase of pandemic cases in geographic locations
- Working closely with Human Capital leaders to make informed predictions in a timely manner that will lead to effective short- and long-term staffing decisions and mobility solutions to maintain quality.
Serving our clients and doing everything possible to protect the health and well-being of our people are our priorities. Given our mobility as an organization and our robust technology infrastructure, our people have the capacity to work virtually for extended periods. This arrangement gives us flexibility to manage client responsibilities even during potential disruptive events that may threaten our operations.
2. PwC provides my organization with services from multiple countries. How could this impact my service level?
PwC is a network of member firms across the globe.
As part of PwC’s global business model, a Global Relationship Partner is responsible for all aspects of our relationship with each global client (including business continuity and incident response).
We have a network standard for business continuity and incident response (including pandemic response plans), against which each member firm is assessed annually, and have been tested for resiliency.
Governance and oversight are provided at network level by our Network Incident Response Team.
As a globally distributed professional services firm with substantial depth of available specialist resources in the various regions in which we operate, we have the capacity to redeploy people as circumstances require.
3. What is PwC doing to promote continuity of my services during the current disruptions to travel?
Within the US/Mexico and overseas
- Everyday flexibility is part of the way we work at PwC, which means that our people are able and equipped to work remotely, including from home, at another PwC office or elsewhere.
- With current travel restrictions in place, your PwC engagement leader will continue to work with you to agree on suitable alternative ways of working (e.g. via video conferencing).
- If you have particular concerns, please talk to your PwC engagement leader or contact our Global Crisis Centre at GBL-Global-Crisis_Center@pwc.com.
4. What are you doing at PwC to protect the continuity of your supply chain?
- We’re in touch with our suppliers and service partners who have contractual obligations to have appropriate plans and arrangements in place to ensure the continuity of the supply of goods and services to PwC.
- We maintain an appropriate inventory of core technology and other products essential to running our operations.
5. What other precautions are you taking?
PwC offices are closed until further notice. We are continuing to evaluate, listening to local and federal governments and will update, as this situation is fluid.
We’ve updated our travel guidance and will continue to do so as the situation evolves.
- The firm remains committed to taking measures to help protect our people from the virus. As of March 20, 2020, we have suspended all domestic and international travel. This position aligns with the State Department's travel guidance. Anyone returning home from an existing trip or global assignment, must self quarantine for 2 weeks upon return to the US or Mexico. We will plan to update when this position changes.
- We’re encouraging the use of virtual options for collaboration and meetings. Our people are well versed and technology-enabled to work from any location, including any shelter-in-place location.
