Last week some of our team (including Ladyada and I) got the COVID-19 blood IgG antibody test (free, covered by our health care) and have now received the results. The team members who were tested, were/are working on-site leading up to mid-march on-site each day, and have been on-site most/all days since, for March, all of April, and now May. Ladyada and I have been on site about 58 of the last 60 days.
THE RESULTS
So far, every person has been negative for the covid-19 antibodies.
Except for me! which is unknown at this time. Either they will call me because it was positive for a follow up (that is what they sometimes do that as per the Doctor) or there is a reporting / delay issue. Since limor and I live together in a tiny apartment, it’s likely the same as hers. however, we’ll see.
Update! Mine came in today May 5, 2020, negative.
Update, the May 14th test, negative, results within 24 hours too…
There are now locations minutes from Adafruit and in all 5 boroughs to get COVID-19 testing and COVID-19 antibody testings, and it’s covered for free with our health care plan.
WHAT COULD THIS MEAN?
- The accuracy of this type of test, and for negative, is considered accurate. However, as more of us get tested, we’ll get a larger data set of results. We’ll get tested again too.
- If accurate, and so far seems it is, the personal and Adafruit protocols before the closure, and after, and now, are keeping us safe, and kept us safe. it may mean we were not exposed.
- Adafruit proactively reducing capacity and closing down ahead of any mandates was a smart decision, it probably kept many of us not getting exposed during some peak times of spread. Adafruit canceling any travel from outside visitors or remote staff probably helped. We did not allow outside visitors and required meetings virtual or over email. We also did not do in-person all company meetings.
Each day the on-site team has their temperature taken (making sure none of us have a fever). Each team member was sent a thermometer to their home, even if they are not an on-site team members. Each team member has PPE sent to their homes, even if they are not onsite, including K95 masks, kids masks, and more. On-site teams have PPE for to and from work, as well as sanitizers outside and inside each door, gloves, masks, physical distancing. We have not had more than 5-6 people per floor / section at any time. Staggered shifts and smart schedules for staffing, we an operate any time 24/7 as needed. Each day the facilities are cleaned with foggers and bleaching of shared restrooms, in addition to the during-the-day sanitation and proactive cleanings. We do not interact with the public, all pick ups from USPS/UPS/FedEx/DHL require masks and gloves / 6 feet apart (we provide PPE if needed), and we only allow 1 person at a time in elevators, same-day orders are no-contact in our building.
We have safety protocol meetings as we add team members to work on site, and look out for each other.
Looking back at sick days from our team, the estimates based about 100 team members on-site – comparing 2018/2019 to 2019/2020.
December 2018
48 employees took sick days
Jan 2019
32 employees took sick days
Feb 2019
24 employees sick days
December 2019
25 employees took sick days
Jan 2020
25 employees took sick days
Feb 2020
17 employees took sick days
A few things about Adafruit, we have flex schedules so folks can make up time if they need and we have one great health care plan for everyone, not a “great” plan for some of the team, and crummy plan for hourly team member for example. It costs more to do have the best care for employees, and it is worth it. Being able to see the doctor and get prescriptions at the lowest costs and highest convenience means all year long the wellness overall of teams is healthy. If someone has a high co-pay, expensive meds that are not covered by their health care, and high deductibles, they will not go when needed – we decided to get the possible care for our teams we can get. We do not do accrued sick time, in other words we do not say “you must work X hours to earn X hours of sick time” … we get sick time immediately when joining Adafruit, and each year we’ve added more sick time, as well as paid days off for charity, paid day off for voting, bereavement / pet bereavement, jury duty, and holidays from MLK day to all the usual ones. The holidays can be used as floats. If a holiday ends up on a weekend, we have the Friday or Monday off.
What does this all mean? It’s just information. We’ll continue observe, report, and stay safe – this is not over. We’ll keep sharing what we’re doing in hope that helps others. We are in the epicenter, this is just one company, and just our story.
