ISSUE SIX 06/20
CELEBRATING
LIBERATION 75
ISSUE SIX 06/20
INTRO Team working is a bit more complicated than just being in a group of people getting things done. The difference between a good and a bad team is how well they work together. At Jersey Post, over the past 10 weeks, I have seen real evidence of people pulling together and working well together as a team: • showing a positive attitude instead of being negative • supporting colleagues who might be struggling • communicating in the right way – even if there is the odd swear word! • using their problem-solving skills to find solutions to issues • listening to other people’s ideas • demonstrating an almost universal can-do attitude It’s been great to see, and we have overcome and achieved so much with what coronavirus has thrown at us as we’ve faced the challenges of operating a postal service. I think it shows that, deep down, people just want to do the right thing, work hard and help each other out. I know that the rest of the Executive share my pride in working with the great team here at Jersey Post and in getting the job done.
Thank you and keep going!
ISSUE SIX 06/20
COVID-19 UPDATE
Of the 45 Operations staff who were off work from the start of the restrictions, all but 15 have returned and we are delighted to see them back. We continue to cover the shortfall with controlled overtime and support from non-operational staff on a voluntary rota basis. A big thank you goes to everyone who is doing overtime or working on the rotas. And, of course, Operations couldn’t operate without the - now largely unseen – efforts of the support function teams. Thank you to them for keeping the wheels on the bus! A few weeks ago, Condor introduced a restricted freight service where there was no inbound freight on Monday evening or Wednesday morning. It’s now great to see the ferries have returned to a Wednesday morning service with a Monday evening service back on the cards as freight volumes continue to rise. We continue to have to adapt to changing product mix and presentation issues. We are experiencing higher parcel volumes - up 32% or 448,000 yearon-year - and lower letter volumes - down 22% or 1.8m year on year - as at the end of week 22. Badly loose loaded Royal Mail loop containers are an ongoing menace! We have recruited a further 4 fixed term staff and hired more vans to assist with parcel deliveries and high Logistics volumes mean we have had additional part time staff from the likes of Seymour Hotels to assist there. Physical distancing within the sorting office is being monitored although we are confident that we are compliant with the Guidelines issued in respect of working factories and warehouses. We have advised all admin staff that we have no current plans to bring them back to the office.
We are reviewing how many staff and in what configurations will meet the Guidelines on returning to office based working. Thank you to all admin staff who participated in our home working survey the results of which are also published in this newsletter. The Rue des Pres and Broad Street enhanced cleaning programme continues as does the ‘one in, one out’ cleaning regime for the delivery vans. Silvio is doing a sterling job providing breakfast on a one way, take away basis in the Canteen. Thanks to Tim Brown we ensured that staff working in operations qualified for the government serology Antibody Survey. A number of staff were able to book tests at the centres in Springfield and Les Quennevais. In addition we had 3 ‘clinics’ set up over two days covering 143 staff at Rue des Pres. The results of this survey will help the Government assess and understand how the coronavirus has spread throughout the island. We have ensured that we have access to supplies of hand sanitiser, gloves, 6,000 face masks and 100 visors (supplied by CWU) for those who choose to wear them. It has been an amazing 10 weeks and confidence is high that we are in good shape to tackle the next 10 weeks.
Niall McClure Managing Director, Postal & Logistics Services
ISSUE SIX 06/20
WORKING
IN OPS It’s been a huge help to the business having so many non-operational staff help us out in Operations during this busy period. We asked some of our regular helpers how they’ve found this experience…
ISSUE SIX 06/20
Mary Melaugh - I have found helping in Ops great! Learning more about other departments. It has been very enjoyable everyone works as a team and everyone is lovely :) Robyn Pestana – I’ve really enjoyed working within Operations, it’s been a nice change from the office and has given me a chance to get to know the operational staff more. I enjoy the evening shifts in particular, as it’s very busy and keeps me fit! J Learning about how the machines work has been very interesting as usually you would just see it do its thing, these past few weeks has expanded my knowledge on these systems a great deal. India Cook – I’ve really enjoyed having the chance to better understand how all the different aspects of the Ops department work and how it all fits together – it still fascinates me just how much we process and how well all the systems run! Everyone has been lovely, and it’s been great getting to know people from around the business better. Having spent a long time stuck at home during lockdown, it’s also been great to do some more physical work – I haven’t needed to touch my kettlebell for weeks due to shifting so many heavy parcels and mail sacks and my step count is right back up!
ISSUE SIX 06/20
Sue Manning - It was great getting out of house and working in a team again. Ray Legg - I’ve been delivering all the locker-box items out to the drop-off banks around the island for a couple of hours each day. It’s been busy...but good! I’ve enjoyed getting out in the sunshine and being a postie for a time. I normally head down to Ops at 11am, then I have my van loaded and am usually leaving RDP at approx. 12.00 – doing a tour of Springfield, JEC, St Peters & Red Houses. Dan McCarthy - I have really enjoyed working in Operations over the last couple of months. It has been very enjoyable working with all the staff and learning more about Jersey Post and the way we work. Sarah Angell - It’s been great to mix with people I wouldn’t ordinarily mix with in my day to day job, I’ve really enjoyed working in Operations, it’s useful in my role to know how operational processes work because if at any point in the future I work on projects based in Ops, I’ll be able to come to them with a better understanding.
ISSUE SIX 06/20
Charlie McCleod - It’s been a really good time working alongside the Ops staff and getting an in-depth understanding on how the sorting office works. Sonia Ferri - It’s been a real eye-opener working in Operations over the COVID-19 period. Seeing the number of parcels coming off the mail plane and boat is astonishing, especially with some of the larger bulk items that come through the network. After my first evening shift, I was wiped out from standing on my feet for so long! Safe to say I’m used to it now. During my shifts, I usually work on the parcel sorting machine, removing parcels from the shoots and placing them into yorks. I’ve enjoyed this area as I’m able to stick my headphones in and listen to some podcasts. It’s also interesting to see some of the weird and wonderful things people send through the post, although it’s not helped with my online spending habits!
ISSUE SIX 06/20
WORKING
FROM HOME Garry from digital has transformed his shed into an ultimate man cave for him to work in!
Our latest addition to the IT team, Bosco, has been helping Charles to complete his work from home.
Sonia from Marketing’s work is closely monitored by her feline supervisor, Ziggy.
Tim has had to take the ultimate leap of faith – time for a home haircut!
ISSUE SIX 06/20
The lovely Bella likes to keep a close eye on Gemma from IT to make sure she’s working hard! Tracey’s duties now include babysitting her gorgeous granddog, Buddy!
India from Marketing’s cat, Wolfie, is not amused that her MacBook keeps getting more attention than him.
A lovely view from Niall McClure’s home desk.
Sue’s little helper Max doesn’t have the highest productivity levels, but he’s very cute!
The philatelic team is currently benefitting from a very lovely new little helper at home with Rachel!
Digital’s latest recruit, Dodger, likes to ‘help’ by attempting to bite Reuben’s hands as he types.
Terry has been making the most of this beautiful weather by taking his home office outside!
Annare’s job description has now been updated to include ‘day-care for dolls’!
ISSUE SIX 06/20
COMMU POSTIES DELIVERING PRESCRIPTIONS Drivers from Jersey Post have been working with the Call and Check Service to deliver health supplies across the Island in partnership with Health and Community Services. To protect vulnerable Islanders from needing to visit GP surgeries and pharmacies and to support social distancing measures, drivers have been collecting and delivering prescriptions. The prescriptions are collected from GP surgeries daily and taken to pharmacies for dispensing. Once the prescriptions have been dispensed, they are collected by drivers and delivered to Islanders across all parishes. This service has been set up to ensure that vulnerable Islanders continue to receive their vital medication. “I have been a part of the scheme from the start. For me, it has been an honour to be involved in being able to help the more vulnerable members of our island. The way our people have taken on the extra work, with less of them here, truly makes me feel proud. Especially, as we have been providing an essential service to help our island.”
Neal MacKinnon
CARING COOKS Last month, we assisted Melissa at Caring Cooks Jersey by loaning her one of our vans to enable them to carry out all their deliveries, as they have seen a huge increase in the amount of daily meal services they are providing for islanders. We’re thrilled to have been able to help out this wonderful charity.
Assistant PM Processing Manager
“A massive thank you to Jersey Post who have loaned us a larger van as our little van has hit capacity due to the increasing number of referrals we are getting for our daily meal service to Islanders in need. You’re true angels x”
ISSUE SIX 06/20
NIT Y H4HJ VAN WRAP One of our vans has been beautifully wrapped to support Holidays for Heroes Jersey. Look out for it around the island!
ISSUE SIX 06/20
THANK YOUS AND GIFTS Your hard work continues to be acknowledged and appreciated by the public. Here are just some of the generous thank yous, donations and gifts we have received to prove it!
Can I take this opportunity to thank you and all at Jersey Post for the tremendous job you have been doing in these exceptionally difficult times. It is not only appreciated by myself, but I am sure the entire Island. Best Wishes
Lindsay Ash
Deputy St Clement
Maillards Funeral Directors have kindly treated us to some very yummy Jersey Wonders!
A massive thank you to Jonathan Ruff and the team at Ruffs Kitchens for kindly donating 100 bottles of hand sanitiser. This kind gesture has helped us to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
One kind customer has been adding stickers to all her mail to thank the posties!
Zebra Hire generously donated some gloves to us for our Posties to use while processing and delivering mail.
ISSUE SIX 06/20
Customers Helen and Michael very kindly ordered cupcakes for all our postal staff as a thank you for their hard work during these unprecedented times.
Thank you so much to Dominion Fiduciary Services for sending us some cupcakes this morning! What a lovely kind gesture!
We are extremely grateful to the team members of the Coronavirus Jersey - Acts of kindness page who have supported us by providing our Posties with masks!
Another kind gift of cupcakes for our posties from some very generous customers!
We are all highly impressed by your hard work and the commitment shown by all of you. You are doing a tremendous job in difficult circumstances. As a special thank you for all those working through the challenges of the last few weeks up to 10th May (including those who supported regularly from upstairs), I would like you to have a takeaway and a night in on us. All of those people working over that period will receive ÂŁ40 (we will pay tax and other deductions) as a small token of our appreciation.
Tim Brown Chief Executive
ISSUE SIX 06/20
POSTCARDS WE HAVE RECEIVED AS THANK YOUS Following the #ConnectingJersey campaign we launched in April, it has been wonderful to see that so many members of the Jersey public have chosen to send their ‘Thank you’ postcards here, to thank you, our hard-working staff, for all your hard work in keeping the island connected throughout the lockdown.
ST HELIER TOWN CENTRE & ADVICE Jersey Post are working hard to keep you connected and keep you safe. They will also be launching their postcard scheme this week giving you an opportunity to say thank you or thinking of you. Keep an eye on your letter box! #connectingjersey
FAMILY NURSING AND HOMECARE Our fantastic team are still out in the community delivering great care to the patients and clients we look after. We love getting a thank you, but it feels even more special at the minute! We wanted to share these lovely words with you, sent to one of our nurses recently: “It is always a pleasure to see you because you are not just a nurse, you are a friend.” This was on one of Jersey Post’s special #thankyou postcards. #thankyou #connectingjersey
ISSUE SIX 06/20
KALMAC BUILDERS A lovely thank you card from one of our wonderful customers #connectingjersey
100% HEALTH STORE CONNECTION IS KEY ♥ Thank you so much to whoever sent us this Jersey Post postcard this week. It really did make our week and again emphasises how much we have all come together as a community. How pressing pause makes you think and re-evaluate the important aspects in life – even just having the time to write a thank you card can change a person’s day and create a positive impact which hopefully will keep evolving as we all learn from this time. Thank you and thank you to Jersey Post for keeping us all connected. #connectingjersey
ANNEVILLE FARM SHOP Feeling the love! #keepjerseyfarming #organic #connectingjersey
JERSEY BRAIN TUMOUR CHARITY We were thrilled to receive one of Jersey Post’s #connectingjersey “Thank You” cards from our wonderful client, Margaret. This really did brighten our day and it’s so good to know that we are still helping to make a difference through these challenging times. As we are sure you know, JBTC are still here, working in the background, providing support and help where we can. Thank you Margaret for thinking of us. Sonia didn’t stop smiling all day! Xx
JERSEY MENCAP Was lovely to receive a #connectingjersey postcard today. Thank you to the sender and @jsypost
ISSUE SIX 06/20
FUNGI DELECTI Anyone who knows me will testify that my love of live music is absolute. My gig wall of ticket stubs is undoubtedly my prize possession and I’m very proud of it, If it doesn’t mean something to me then it doesn’t make it on. Long story short one of your cards now has pride of place! Your cards have touched us all and we are so grateful. Thank you. All but this one are on the staff notice board for the guys to read. #connectingjersey
LIBERTY BUS Thanks Jersey Post for helping us stay connected with our customers. #connectingjersey
JERSEY GIRLS RUN THANK YOU!!... …whilst Laura was on the receiving end of a Jersey Post #connectingjersey card from one of our members thanking her for her support during this time, she’d like to return the thanks to all the group for being such amazing women and making the group what it is because without them, we wouldn’t be the running group we are. So THANK YOU LADIES
ISSUE SIX 06/20
AMAIZIN ADVENTURE PARK Happy mail Thank you so much to these lovely members for putting a huge smile on our faces this morning! And another huge thank you to Jersey Post for creating such a lovely incentive and #connectingjersey ♥
CHANNEL 103 We are receiving some great postcards here at Channel 103. Jersey people are awesome. Thanks Caz and thanks Jersey Post! #connectingjersey I do believe radio is such a great medium. Especially in communities like Jersey. Another lovely postcard that we have received at Channel 103. Thank you so much. #connectingjersey
CITIZENS ADVICE JERSEY MARK CAPERN Lovely surprise today in the post to home... a @jsypost #connectingjersey ‘Thank you’ card from a member of our @JsyYouthService team. Lucky to lead an awesome team of people, that deliver an excellent service to children & young people.
Was lovely to receive a #connectingjersey postcard today. Thank you to the sender and @jsypost
ISSUE SIX 06/20
AWARD SHORTLISTS
DOUBLE SHORTLIST SUCCESS We have been shortlisted for two awards at the World Post & Parcel Awards 2020 – a prestigious industry event.
The company has been recognised for their development of a bespoke chatbot website solution in the Customer Service category, and in the Philatelic Campaign of the Year category for the hugely successful, “Moon Landing Series.’ Jersey Post’s Chatbot “J.P.” was designed to help customers with an instant response to basic customer service queries and tasks, such as tracking an item out for delivery, looking for postage prices or directing customers to alternative delivery solutions that save customers’ time.
As a result of implementing the ChatBot, we have introduced an easier, quicker and more cost-effective way for customers to access Jersey Post services and support. In addition, we have seen a significant reduction in the total number of monthly calls into the Customer Care team, but also in the number of abandoned calls. This reduction in calls has enabled the Customer Care team to spend more time helping customers with more complex cases.
ISSUE SIX 06/20
Our shortlisted “Moon Landing Series” celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing in 1969. The six stamps portrayed the Apollo 11 lunar mission as it was reported in Jersey, illustrating key parts of the mission alongside a headline or quote from the Jersey Evening Post. This historic event needed to engage not only the older generation which has nostalgic childhood memories of the landings, but also to appeal to new, and younger space enthusiasts through the use of innovative printing techniques and marketing channels to retell the momentous occasion.
The World Post & Parcel Awards showcase the latest innovation and best practice within the mail and express services industry. The awards recognise those organisations that are embracing industry challenges and maximising the opportunities that today’s business environment presents. In its 21st year, the Awards are facing their own unique challenges with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and have worked around the issues that this currently poses. In lieu of the traditional celebratory gala dinner to present the awards,
the winners will be announced at a virtual presentation evening on 16 June.
Not only was the “Moon Landing Series” our top-selling stamp issue in 2019, the issue was also a huge hit online.
On social media, we created a unique video which was enjoyed by over 260,000 viewers worldwide, but the issue was an even bigger hit via the BBC History website. Our geo-targeted, online collaboration saw the campaign become one of the BBC’s most successful website takeovers in 2019.
ISSUE SIX 06/20
STAMP ISSUE ISSUE DATE: 9TH MAY
ISSUE SIX 06/20
The 75th anniversary of the liberation of Jersey was commemorated with a set of six stamps issued by Jersey Post on 9 May 2020. The commemorative stamps have been created by True North, with illustrations by Charlie Davis, and depict key moments in a contemporary celebration of Liberation Day.
“Seventy-five years after the momentous events of May 1945 we wanted this stamp issue to commemorate the still huge importance of the Island’s national day to the people of Jersey,” explains Chris Elligott, Philatelic Design and Production Manager at Jersey Post.
“Creating illustrations with echoes of 1940s poster style, the stamps show how the liberation continues to be celebrated by the people of Jersey; of course the formal ceremonies and re-enactments, but also the spirit and joy of the gift of freedom that our community is so fortunate to cherish today.” Adele Littler, Senior Designer at True North comments of their approach to the stamp designs: “Jersey’s national day – the annual event to mark the island’s liberation, is such an important occasion in Jersey’s history and has been documented in stamps many times. The brief was to find a new way to depict the celebrations. We worked with illustrator Charlie Davis to relive the joyous moments of 9 May, with the styling partly inspired by the iconic poster designers of the time.”
ISSUE SIX 06/20
STRICTLY LIMITED EDITION SOLID SILVER LIBERATION 75 COMMEMORATIVE COIN The Liberation is an important event to the people of Jersey and Jersey Post wanted to create something incredibly special to commemorate the 75th anniversary, a solid silver coin. Strictly limited to 75 pieces, each of the coins are presented in a wooden presentation case together with a specially numbered certificate of authentication. The design on the face of the coin encapsulates the joy of freedom in the face of an Islander, the Union flag, birds in flight and the iconic Liberation statue. The reverse features a representation of the insignia of the troops that liberated the Island, Force 135, together with the words spoken by Winston Churchill in his Victory in Europe speech, “…and our dear Channel Islands are also to be freed today” words that meant that the five years of occupation and oppression were final finally at an end. An island-wide mailing containing details of the coins and how to order was delivered to all homes in Jersey the week commencing 27th April. The mailing had an overwhelming response. Inundated by orders, the coins had sold out that same weekend, a week before they were due to be issued. As an extra special nod to the occasion, one of our Postmen, Ricky, helped to deliver some of these sold out Souvenir Coins in his WW2 Dodge Weapons Carrier!
Ricky delivering Souvenir Coins
ISSUE SIX 06/20
“... AND OUR DEAR CHANNEL ISLANDS ARE ALSO TO BE FREED TODAY”
Liberation 75 - Set of six stamps
Liberation 75 - First day covers
ISSUE SIX 06/20
LIBERATION 75
SYMBOLS, CIPHERS A VIRTUAL EXHIBITI Jersey Post had originally discussed with Jersey Heritage the proposition of an exhibition to introduce the subject of Jersey stamps during the Occupation to set the scene for a visual discussion about the design and production of the new issue of Liberation 75 commemorative stamps.
The exhibition was originally planned to be held in the Link Gallery at Jersey Museum during May and June 2020. However the onset of the Covid-19 lockdown meant that it would have to be approached in an alternative way, so it was decided to create a virtual exhibition that could be hosted on the Jersey Heritage website. The resulting film, ‘Symbols, Ciphers & Celebration’ draws on archive footage to help to set the scene of martial law, curfew, oppression and stories of hardship that the Islanders faced. Chris Addy, Sites Creator at Jersey Heritage explains “Filmmaker Andy Evans of Fortress Island Films helped us articulate these ideas with elegant flair, incorporating some fascinating archive material. The careful consideration given to the designs of the new issue is showcased by the film, which provides an interesting insight into the thoughtful multi-layered creative process behind the realisation of Jersey postage stamps”. The result is a fascinating and often emotional look at the period of Nazi occupation and how Jersey Islanders faced up to the adversity with ingenuity, courage and passive resistance. This included insight into how symbols of resistance were interwoven into the Jersey stamp designs of the time, right under the noses of the German forces. This part of the film formed a beautifully effective introduction into the theme of the Liberation 75 stamp issue.
ISSUE SIX 06/20
& CELEBRATION ON Chris Elligott, Philatelic Design and Production Manager at Jersey Post, said: “The Liberation of Jersey on 9th May 1945 meant that five long years of occupation were over and the Islanders were finally able to celebrate their freedom before undertaking the long task of rebuilding their home. Seventy-five years after those momentous events we wanted the stamp issue to commemorate the still huge importance of the Island’s national day to the people of Jersey.
Creating illustrations with echoes of 1940s poster style, the stamps show how the liberation is still celebrated by the people of Jersey; of course the formal ceremonies and re-enactments, but also the spirit and joy of the gift of freedom that our community is so fortunate to cherish today.” “We liaised closely with Jersey Heritage, providing visuals and elements with which help produce the second section of the film, which offers an Insight into part of the stamp design process and showcases the final designs together with the specially produced limited-edition solid silver coin”.
The resulting film can be viewed online in the ‘Heritage at Home’ hub at www.jerseyheritage.org/athome/Liberation75 together with a suite of other ‘Liberation Shorts’, interviews, archive footage and photographs which give a wonderful insight into the occupation and the eventual liberation of Jersey and its fellow Channel Islands.
ISSUE SIX 06/20
VAIIE In early April, our digital business Vaiie launched its free Secure Portal offering.
With the increase in remote working due to COVID-19, Vaiie has been offering organisations in Jersey and Guernsey a branded secure portal with 500MB of free storage to help businesses communicate securely and maintain data compliance.
The campaign has been really successful with 7 businesses signed up in Jersey so far and 4 in Guernsey.
These businesses range from financial services, commercial companies and estate agents. Currently, there are between 5 to 20 users from each business using their free portal to share and send secure information. The Secure Portals provide the ultimate B2B/B2C solution whilst working securely within a branded environment. Whether businesses are collaborating internally or exchanging confidential data outside of their organisation, our solution provides industry leading encryption, digital signatures and audit and reporting, along with a wealth of additional functionality.
ISSUE SIX 06/20
Our very own Karen Whiley, Executive Assistant to Tim Brown has been using the Portal and here’s what she had to say about her experience:
“Vaiie’s portal has been a great tool during C-19 lockdown.“ ”With several contracts requiring signing for internal use and a new employee, the logistics of getting these documents signed were much more difficult than our normal process of meeting face to face. Being able to send documents out to the CEO and relevant parties (internally and externally) electronically has been so easy and far more efficient than utilising postal channels. Since using the portal for a few internal documents, we have started to utilise the document sharing with our international partners saving several days even weeks when sending contracts out to our partners in Australia. This solution has also given me the extra security of knowing that the documents are received and no breach of data if the posted documents fell into the wrong hands. Initially, I was worried about implementing new software, but this couldn’t be simpler with the support given by Vaiie we were up and running in no time and immediately saving on time and cost.”
ISSUE SIX 06/20
INTERNATIONAL MAJOR US CONTRACT SECURED
We are thrilled to have secured a major contract worth over $84m with the United States Postal Service (USPS). Through a recent tender exercise, USPS, who to date has only used established postal networks for the delivery of their outbound international mail, awarded a contract to APG Global, a Florida-based subsidiary of the Jersey Post Group.
We added APG Global, a specialist Latin American parcel and logistics partner, to our global network in 2018. This investment extended our network into Latin American countries and offered us the platform to provide our existing network partners with services into these areas, as well as the ability to exploit new opportunities to expand into the Americas.
ISSUE SIX 06/20
APG Global offers a range of commercial solutions including eCommerce, fulfilment and cross-border services, international mail services, standard, express, and economy parcel services, global direct entry wholesale services, freight forwarding and warehousing solutions. The USPS contract was awarded based on multiple factors comprising cost, service, business reputation, operational and IT capability and covers over 32 countries, including Australia, Brazil, Peru, and El Salvador. Our Australian based network partner DAI Post also formed part of the tender process. Based in Melbourne, DAI Post is an Australasia and Singapore based eCommerce logistics business that focusses on services from around the world into and out of these territories.
“This contract is a major win for the Jersey Post Group and is testament to the knowledge and expertise that we now have within the Group. We launched our international growth strategy in 2015 and have worked tirelessly to build a robust, interconnected network across the globe to ensure that we can continue to meet the changing demands of our local and international customers. We are delighted with this win and see it is the start of a fantastic opportunity for further growth and expansion in this market.� - Tim Brown It is anticipated that there will be a phased roll-out of services, starting in early August 2020. The contract has an overall value of approximately $12m/annum and has been signed for seven years.
ISSUE SIX 06/20
10 TIPS FOR STAYING
WORKING FROM HOME There are undeniable benefits to working from home: the freedom and flexibility of working in familiar surroundings, no co-workers to distract you, being able to wear what you want, time with your pets and/ or kids, and the opportunity to knock out some chores. But working from home also comes with its own distractions and disadvantages. There are plenty of opportunities for procrastination and – especially while we’re locked down at home - it’s easy to skip your workouts, regular meals, social interaction, and even sleep, if you don’t consciously structure your environment to promote healthy habits. What’s more, these times are challenging for our mental health. We are naturally social animals, so it’s far from strange that we might be struggling through this stay at home, physically distant period. Many are under severe financial pressure, domestic abuse has soared, relationships are strained. For some there is a distinct lack of routine, hardly any sense of normality, and, devastatingly, many are grieving. And that’s on top of the underlying fear of contracting a dangerous virus. To help you out, here are 10 practical strategies to help you stay active, productive and well throughout this time.
2
Schedule your day
Keeping structure to your working hours can help you stay focused and efficient. That includes scheduling a lunch break and time for meetings and phone calls, plus realistic but adjustable windows of time to accomplish the most important items on your to-do list. It’s also important to schedule breaks into your day, allowing yourself time to get up and stretch out. When creating your schedule, consider the time of day you feel most energized and alert, as well as the time of day you feel most sluggish or prone to distraction, then organize your tasks and breaks accordingly. For help staying focussed, why not try the Pomodoro method? Set yourself intervals of 25 minutes of laserfocussed work followed by a 5-minute break. After 4 work intervals, there is a 15-minute break. There are free apps available to help you time this.
1
Create a new routine for yourself
Lockdown has put us all into unknown territory and the comfort of our usual routines has been stripped from us. As tempting as it can be to stay in your PJs all day and work from your bed, this can have a detrimental effect on your mental health in the long run. Creating a new daily routine around your new circumstances is therefore imperative to keeping you mentally healthy. Try getting up at the same time every day, then perhaps doing a workout or some stretches first thing, taking a shower and making a nice breakfast, if that appeals to you. There are many studies backing up the benefits of routine on positive mental health, and there’s no right or wrong way to do it, so just make sure it’s something that feels right to you and do your best to stick with it… but also give yourself grace if it doesn’t always go perfectly!
ISSUE SIX 06/20
HEALTHY WHILE DURING LOCKDOWN 3
Prep meals and snacks
Not only is good nutrition a vital part of our everyday health, but it is also very important to staying focused, energized, and productive throughout the day. It’s hard to concentrate and be productive when you’re hungry or your blood sugar is low. With the call of the refrigerator ever more alluring when you are working from home, it’s important to stay on top of your nutrition. The key is to stock your kitchen with healthy foods, prep your meals and limit your intake of sugary drinks and foods,
such as refined carbs that will give you a quick energy boost, followed by an insulin spike and consequent low blood sugar after two to three hours. This can lead to a lack of concentration and to feeling jittery, sweaty, or hungry. Instead, stock your fridge and pantry with fruits and veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins. To minimize temptation and prevent overeating, try planning your meals ahead of time and pre-portioning healthy snacks.
4
Schedule a workout into your calendar
When we lose all our normal daily rituals, it can be hard to find a way to build a new exercise habit. So many of us rely on the gym, lunch hours or commutes to get our exercise in, which have suddenly been taken away from our daily lives, and it’s much harder to find the motivation when our habits have been broken. Whilst spending so much time sat at home, it’s more crucial than ever for your health to make sure you remain physically active. Aside from improving your overall fitness, research shows that regular workouts can also help lower your stress levels and increase your energy, which in turn, can help you stay focused and disciplined. The best way to create this habit is to schedule it into your calendar just like you would any other important meeting or task. It doesn’t need to be strenuous, but make sure you try to be active for at least 30 minutes each day.
ISSUE SIX 06/20
5
Don’t eat at your desk
While working from home, it’s easy to fall into a pattern of eating your lunch at your desk or workstation without really stopping, but it’s important to step away from that and allow yourself a proper break during the day. Allowing yourself to get away from your work and decompress for a short while will make you feel much better and all the more productive when you return to work for the afternoon.
6
Get out of the house
Making the most of your allowed hours outside of your house is crucial to your wellbeing. With lifted restrictions on the time we’re allowed out and the reasons why, this is now all the easier. The improved weather certainly helps make this all the more appealing! Even if it’s just for a short walk, do try to make sure you leave your house every day, as this will have a positive impact on your mental wellbeing.
7
Drink plenty of water
Drinking water tends to become an easy part of our routine at work. We have a particular bottle we use, and we tend to fill it at certain times of day, like when we arrive and on our lunch break. When working from home, those types of habits can easily fall to the wayside and, especially if we’re not being as active as we may normally be throughout the day, it’s easy to forget to hydrate ourselves properly. Try recreating your usual habit at home by using the same bottle you would at work and making sure to fill it regularly. You can also try setting reminders on your phone to help you keep on top of it!
8
Stay social
The lack of social interaction enforced by the lockdown has taken a heavy toll on mental health for many people. Being separated from our families, friends and those we love is no easy task, especially for those who live alone. Thankfully, we live in an age of technology that has allowed us to stay connected through video calls and virtual hangouts - no doubt most of us have partaken in a Zoom quiz over the last couple of months! - and these types of virtual social interactions really are crucial to help keep us connected. Thankfully, with the restrictions being lifted, we can start to see our friends and family again, and we urge you to make the most of this. Go for physically distanced walks together, visit the beach or park or enjoy a BBQ in a garden. Please do remember, however, to keep to the 2-metre physical distancing rule as per the Government’s guidance.
ISSUE SIX 06/20
9
10
Whilst working from home, it’s easy to let the lines between work- and homelife blur; we don’t have the usual routine of a 5 o’clock pack-up-and-go, but it’s important not to let your work fully bleed into your homelife. The best way to achieve this is to create a shutdown ritual for yourself – which can be as simple as turning off your laptop and storing it away for the night, or physically choosing a different activity you do to signify the end of your working day, such as going for a walk. There will always be times when we may need to work late, just as we would in the office, but try to stick to a set finish time as much as possible and allow yourself to mentally clock off for the day at this point.
It’s entirely natural to feel a complete spectrum of emotions throughout the pandemic, with worry on both a personal and global scale playing heavily on people’s minds. Many comforts have been taken away from us right now, and it is natural to feel sad, scared, lonely or angry. Give yourself grace and allow yourself to feel whatever you are feeling without judgement. Moreover, talk about it. Opening up to friends or family can help ease your mind and remind you that you’re not alone in this.
Develop a shutdown ritual
Go easy on yourself
ISSUE SIX 06/20
ECO 5 WAYS THE EARTH IS HEALING ITSELF DURING COVID-19 The Covid-19 pandemic has had, and continues to have, a terrifying effect across the globe. People are sick and dying, and even those of us who remain physically healthy can still feel the effects of the pandemic on our mental health.
There are many awful effects the pandemic has had on us all, but when we take a step back and look at how this lockdown has given the Earth a chance to begin to heal itself, this silver lining can help to give us some reprieve from the seemingly all-consuming doom and gloom that is often portrayed all around us at a time like this.
1Â
Air pollution levels have plummeted
With factories shut and vehicles off the road, the skies have never looked so blue; in fact, this has resulted in a drastic drop in the pollution levels in almost every country. Smog has stopped choking New Delhi, one of the most polluted cities in the world, and India’s getting views of sights that have not been visible in decades. Nitrogen dioxide pollution in the north-eastern United States is down 30%. Rome air pollution levels from mid-March to mid-April were down 49% from a year ago. Stars seem more visible at night.
ISSUE SIX 06/20
2
5
International air travel is one of the fastest-growing sources of climate emissions worldwide. With global travel restrictions in place, we have seen a huge drop in the number of commercial flights, with many airlines grounding most of their fleet. The pandemic really has cleaned the skies, with one benefit being less air pollution levels. It’s believed that airplane travel adds up to about 5% of global warming, so this drop in flights – though only temporary - is giving our planet the much-needed chance to breathe.
In these times of social distancing, many people have turned to nature to help recharge them. We’ve been forced to pause, slow down, reflect and appreciate the little things – and here in Jersey it’s hard not to be grateful to be surrounded by so many beaches and so much natural beauty.
People have been taking less flights
3
Venice’s Canals have cleared up
The canals in Venice are the clearest they have been in 60 years, due to pollution levels and tourist numbers in the Italian city rapidly dropping. With less boats on the canal, the previously murky, grey waters are now crystal clear because the sediment is still. This has welcomed swans, fish and seabirds back to the canals.
4
Animals have reclaimed land
People are also noticing animals in places and at times they don’t usually. Coyotes have meandered along downtown Chicago’s Michigan Avenue and near San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. A puma roamed the streets of Santiago, Chile. Goats took over a town in Wales. In India, already daring wildlife has become bolder with hungry monkeys entering homes and opening refrigerators to look for food.
People are reconnecting with nature and giving back to the Earth
Many people are turning to gardening and doing smallscale agricultural activities. Studies show that flowers and flowerbeds can help cure depression, and that inhaling and touching the microbes in the garden soil relieves stress, much like the smell of rain. People are also growing vegetables at home, in their balconies, and backyards, for their consumption.
So the big question here is, what happens next? Once this is over and life can resume as normal – do we let it? Do we go back to living exactly as we had before? And how long would it take to undo all the Earth’s healing if we did? When people stay home, the Earth becomes cleaner and wilder. While we couldn’t suggest that people remain indoors, what can we learn from this to help continue our Earth’s healing moving forward? It would be a terrible shame to see all these beautiful changes become quickly undone when we all return to “normal” life. If we could all try and maintain some of the changes we have made during this time, then we can all start to make a difference. Maybe you’ve rediscovered a love of cycling and could cut out some of your car journeys. Maybe we’ve learnt that face-to-face meetings are not always necessary, and video conferencing can do just as good a job in some circumstances, so we can cut down on both air and road travel. Maybe we’ve simply learned to be less wasteful with the resources available to us. Even if we can all pledge to adopt just some small changes for the long run – both on an individual and a commercial scale - it would make a difference. Perhaps we can create a new “normal”, one where we have learnt to respect the Earth a little more.
ISSUE SIX 06/20
WORKSPACE FLEXIBILITY Thank you to all members of staff who recently completed the Workspace Flexibility Survey, to help us better understand what it has been like for you all working from home so far, and how this may work going forward.
1. Which department do you work in?
Thank you!
3. On a scale of 1 to 5, how easy have you found working from home?
Operations HR 1 - Easy... 3 - Some issues but workable... 5 - Ongoing problems are making home working unworkable...
IT Finance Sales
2.2 Average (79 responses)
Marketing International Vaiie
4.
Philatelic Customer Services CMO Other 0
2
4
6
2. Have you enjoyed working at home?
8
10
12
If you have had issues or are having issues, what would have made the transition to home working easier and more productive?
Common answers:
“Having a proper desk and office chair”
“Dual screens” Maybe 20% No 10%
“Mitel headsets”
“Training on Teams and Office 365”
5. Were IT support services easy to access? Yes 70%
Other 8%
Yes 92%
ISSUE SIX 06/20
SURVEY RESULTS 6. Would you work a percentage of your time at home out of choice? Other 6%
No 9%
Yes 85%
7. As restrictions are lifted and the
office becomes more available, what percentage of your role do you believe needs to be done in the office for?
30 25
9. Select the computer facilities available in your home? (out of 79 people who answered)
44
38
36
Computer monitor
Home printer
Spare keyboard and mouse
10. Please add any comments that you
feel are important to the business when thinking about home working in the future.
26
20
19
18
15
Personally I think a full PDF editing software, along with Printer.
9
10
4
5
If I were to work from home permanently I would need a desk and chair to be provided.
3
The inability to do paperwork is difficult. It’s hard for people that do not have work stations.
0 20%
40%
60%
80%
100% Other
8. Select the facilities that you have access to at home? (out of 79 people who answered)
70 Wi-Fi linked to a fibre broadband connection
53 Desk or permanent work space
26 Office chair
Team meetings are important, keeping me informed of what’s going on in and around the business which helps me do my job. I do enjoy working from home, however I don’t like missing out on the social interaction. I find that after a few days, my mental health is severely affected. Working from a laptop a high percentage of the time isn’t ideal. The 2 screen desktop set up in the office is much easier to use, particularly for spreadsheet work. The use of a proper office chair and maybe a computer monitor. If I were to have to spend more time working from home, I would definitely like to have a proper office chair. Keeping in touch with those working from home is invaluable to the organisation and the individuals, to make sure that although remote working, they are still inclusive and part of the organisation and team.
ISSUE SIX 06/20
SPOTLIGHT: RÉKA WILSON In April, Réka joined our digital team at Vaiie as a Product Development Executive.
Where have you joined us from? For many years I have worked as a digital consultant for various organisations, most recently being with Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. I have always been passionate about technology and fascinated of how it can transform our lives and businesses, so helping organisations to maximise on digital opportunities and helping them on their digital transformation journey comes naturally to me. For the past year I have also been conducting a research project into sustainable digital transformation for charities with the aim of conducting a PhD in green digital transformation. How long have you lived in Jersey? I have lived on the island for 9 and a half years now. I originally come from Romania, part of a Hungarian family and was educated in a Hungarian school, so I speak fluently in Romanian, Hungarian, English and I am currently learning French. I love Jersey very much and tend to think of myself as an imported Jersey bean. What do you love most about island life? It is an amazingly beautiful island, what is there not to love? My husband and I are both nature lovers, so we tend to spend our weekends and spare time venturing in the great outdoors, taking long walks in the countrified areas and often stopping along the way to have a picnic and enjoy our surroundings. What’s your favourite thing about working in the digital industry? I fell in love with coding and everything digital from a young age and it has always been a major part of my life. I have always been fascinated how technology can change lives and I feel passionate about how we can use
it for the betterment of everyone’s’ lives, so being able to be a part of this is massively important to me. I am glad that I am in a position to be able to contribute, even if in a small way to making peoples’ lives better and easier. What are you most looking forward to within your role at Vaiie? It is an extremely exciting time to join the team at Vaiie. There has never been more enthusiasm to drive digital transformation programmes than there is now, and the team at Vaiie are working on several innovative solutions, which I am very much looking forward to bring to life. Technology is about finding solutions to existing/ forthcoming problems and it will be fantastic to be able to find new solutions and develop new products to help Vaiie achieve even further excellence. How are you finding it working during the lockdown? It certainly has been one of the most interesting yet surreal starts to a new role I have ever experienced. The team have been extremely welcoming in these difficult circumstances and made sure I get all the support I need by every means possible. Fortunately, using the technology we have, it has been possible to have surmountable online meetings with all the Vaiie teams, which has been extremely helpful. Working from home has not been too bad, but I am looking forward to seeing the office and meeting everyone in person. What’s the main thing you’re missing during lockdown? Our grandson. It is hard not being able to see him and hug him for such a long time, especially as he is so close. He is growing way to fast and we feel we have missed a considerable amount of time with him.
ISSUE SIX 06/20
WHAT’S NEW New Starters
Long servers
We’d like to give a warm welcome to our recent new starters:
Congratulations to our resident ‘Long Servers’ for the following recent work anniversaries. Thanks for your many years of hard work.
Réka Wilson Product Development Executive
20 YEARS
20 YEARS
Michelle Le Blond
Robert McCracken
IT UPDATE PLEASE REMEMBER TO SET UP YOUR WORK EMAIL ADDRESS IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DO SO. 1. Go to office.com and click ‘sign in’ 2. When asked to select an account, choose ‘use another account’ 3. Your login details will be username: firstname.lastname@jerseypost.com password: JerseyPost2020! 4. It will then walk you through the steps to reset the password to one of your choosing 5. You will be sent a verification code to the details you will have provided, and will need to enter this to finish setting up your account
IF YOU REQUIRE ANY ASSISTANCE, PLEASE CALL 616777.
QUIZ For a chance to win a pair of cinema tickets, please send your answers to India Cook in Marketing or email newsletter@jerseypost.com
1. The tallest building in the world is located in which city?
6. What scale is used to measure the heat of chilli peppers?
2. How many hearts does an octopus have?
7. What is the capital of Finland?
3. In which year did Twitter launch?
8. What is -40* Celsius in Fahrenheit?
4. What is Postman Pat’s surname?
9. What is the best-selling novel of all time?
5. At which venue is the British Grand Prix held?
10. How many elements are in the periodic table?
Good Luck!
Last month’s answers: 1. Frankenstein 2. Edvard Munch
3. Verona 4. Pegasus
5. 11
Congratulations to last month’s winner, James Martin! Your prize will be ready for collection once the cinema reopens. Do you have any ideas, achievements or suggestions you’d like to tell us about? Let us know by emailing newsletter@jerseypost.com!