Our work from home
JOURNEY
Berkley Letter
(April 9, 2020)
Dear Colleagues: Spring is traditionally a time of reawakening and renewal, in nature, in religious traditions, and in our states of mind. The various holidays many of us may also be celebrating this year—Easter, Passover, Ramadan—each represent a time of rebirth, reflection and renewed commitment to others. Wherever you are, we hope the holidays, or just the longer days and the return of the signs of spring in nature, are bringing you renewed optimism. We are continuing to adjust to new work and life styles. Just as Spring brings renewal, this is an opportunity to further rethink our interpersonal relationships and develop new appreciations for our friends, families, and colleagues, and strengthen those bonds as we find new ways to relate to one another. This period of social isolation can be a lonely timereach out to those in your family, social and business circles and extend a human touch—it will be good for you as well as them. This time can also provide us with an opportunity to refresh our thinking—to see new possibilities and reinvent our visions for ourselves. We are seeing many vibrant new ideas and approaches from many of you. Even in a time of disruption, we remain productive, creative, and are bringing fresh thinking to the table. We will undoubtedly come back stronger and better due to this. The news is becoming gradually more optimistic as we approach the peak in various parts of the world. But these are still critical days and it is all the more important now that we each tay safe and continue to follow the guidelines, fluid as they may be. We still have a way to go, and many of our lives will be changed forever. But just as sure as Spring comes, the days will grow brighter—and we will persevere—as individuals and as a team. Each day brings us closer to the light at the end of the tunnel. Stay strong. Even as we are physically apart, we are still all together—life is a state of mind. We wish you and your families all good health in the coming weeks, and once again thank you for your tireless efforts and ongoing commitment to the Company, our customers, and the greater society in which we all live. Sincerely, Bill and Rob Berkley
QUICK COVID-19
REFERENCE GUIDE
What do I want to be during COVID-19? Fear Zone...Learning Zone...Growth Zone by Ed Hass
I think of the others and see how to help them I make my talents available to those who need them
I start to give up what I can’t control I stop compulsively consuming what hurts me, from food to news I grab food, toilet paper and medications that I don’t need I identify my I spread emotions emotions related to fear and anger
Who do I want to be during COVID-19?
FEAR ZONE
I live in the present and focus on the future I am empathetic with myself and with others
LEARNING ZONE
I complain frequently
I become aware of the situation and think how to act
I forward all messages I receive I get mad easily
I thank and appreciate others I keep a happy emotional state and spread hope
I evaluate information before spreading something false
I recognize that we are all trying to do our best
GROWTH ZONE
I look for a way to adapt to new changes I practice quietude, patience, relationships and creativity
Thoughts from Michael Gillespie, Founder and CEO of BlueEQ, Webinar 4/9/20
IMPROVING STRESS TOLERANCE During COVID-19
1.
Stay connected with your team and key relationships
2.
Operate with greater condor and transparency
3.
Establish peer coaches within your teams
4.
Foster optimism and openness
5.
Have higher levels of empathy: realize everyone’s is unique
6.
Assume positive intent in other people: avoid being impulsive
7.
Better sleep, nutrition, excised and mediation
SHARED MEMES By Berkley One Employees
KEY RISK @ Home Key Risk demonstrates how to work from home with pets, children and spouses.
Staying Connected Virtual Meeting, Dance Parties and Friday Fun Days!
THE BERKLEY INDUSTRIAL MANAGEMENT DANCE PARTY—click on the image to see the video
VIRTUAL MEETINGS
HAPPY EASTER VIDEOS (must watch in chrome)
BNP Leadership Team
BARS Leadership Team
CWG Leadership Team
Clever Remote Working Video Forced out of the office, Berkley Life Science employees create fun video
Click on the image to watch the video
Virtual Happy Hour Berkley One hosts virtual happy hour with agents
Mutt Madness Berkley Entertainment’s innovation team puts a twist on March Madness.
CLICK HERE to see all the video of contestants.
medi
PARENT’S GUIDE Working Remotely, Homeschooling and Social Distancing PREPARATION 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Try to maintain a normal routine–wake up, bedtime, shower each day Make a schedule with built in rewards for following it Take breaks and have fun with recess or PE Have them help with chores—cleaning handles/knobs, organizing rooms, making beds, maybe build in a reward for being a good helper Make lunches ahead of time so you can grab and go (ex. make a bunch of sandwiches at the beginning of the week)
EDUCATIONAL IDEAS—(free resources) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
ABCYa: Grades Pre-K through 6+, Language Arts, Math and Science Khan Academy: Grades K-12 and College, Math lessons Prodigy: Grades 1-8, Math games DreamBox: Grades K-8, Math Raz: Kids, elementary school reading Scholastic Learn at Home Program: Grades K-9, Reading Hippocampus.org: High School courses MysteryScience: Grades K-5, Science classes/experiments
ENTERTAINMENT—(fun and free ideas to get kids engaged) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Cosmic Kids Yoga: fun themed yoga for children and parents Lunch Doodles with Mo Williams: Kid’s author provides fun doodle sessions GoNoodle: movement and mindfulness resources for children Virtual Museum Tours: check out these awesome museums NASA Kids Club: games for grades K-4
Want more ideas? Indeed has a parent’s guide for working from home with kids
Take Care of Yourselves: Need to take a moment? Headspace is offering free meditation resources here: https//www.headspace.com/covid-19 Remember, these are unique circumstances for all of us. Right now, the most important thing is to keep our kids feeling active, engaged, loved and supported. If your schedule gets thrown off by a science experiment gone awry, shake it off. Be patient with yourself so you can be patient with your kids. We are all in this together!
Talking to Your Kids About COVID-19
Given all the discussion around the coronavirus, it may be difficult for your children to understand or discern what they are hearing. Initiating a conversation with your children will help them understand the facts and debunk the myths. Below are some resources that may assist in starting a dialog with your children. ARTICLES & RESOURCES There are many articles out about how to discuss this difficult topic with our kids. Here are a few that might help get you started:
1. 2.
A great place to start is the article Coronavirus: How to Talk to Your Kids About the Disease, which offers a step by step, age specific guide on how to broach this topic with your kids.
Having a teen at home can make this a doubly challenging task. They have access to online content and news that the smaller children are oblivious to. Reachout.com provided a guide specifically catered to talking to teenagers about the Coronavirus.
National Child Traumatic Stress Network Guide to COVID-19: includes a lot of information about how to help your child, including age appropriate responses and resources.
3.
VIDEO, GRAPHICS & PODCASTS We live in a world of social media, videos, images and memes. These can be a great way to help our children understand complex topics and situations. Here are a few that we found helpful or even enjoyable: • BrainPop has an entertaining video explaining the Coronavirus geared to elementary/middle school children • NPR created a comic to explain the Coronavirus for older children who can read—it even gives you the option to print it out and fold it comic book style! • The Daily created a Podcast dedicated to answering kid’s questions about the Coronavirus • This Video is designed for young children to explain social distancing and safe practices.
NEED TO TALK?
Our Employee Assistance Program is a great resource for you during challenging times such as these. (Username and password: RESOURCES)
MINDFULNESS EMAIL
Berkley Luxury Group shares helpful information
To All, Meditation Apps These meditation apps are available for download: some are free and some require a monthly subscriptions to access the additional features:
As we confront the COVID-19 crisis, I would like to share some thoughts on managing anxiety and our ability to focus on the tasks ahead. One idea is Meditation which is a method of Mindfulness, and this may be something you can choose to incorporate into your everyday lives.
CALM
Offer different meditation program that can follow, also offers background music for while your work, go about your day, etc.
HEADSPACE
There is a FREE version and a paid version for guided meditations and resources.
INSIGHT TIMER
This is a FREE meditation app. You can do timed meditation music or guided meditations.
WHAT IS MINDFULNESS? Mindfulness is an approach to work and time that respects the mind’s ability (and need) to concentrate on one task at a time and an approach to work that leaves rooms to reflect on the implications of our actions and decisions. The technical definitions of mindfulness is an awareness of yourself and your surroundings in the present moment. In practice, mindfulness in the workplace is: • Thinking through an email before you send it so that you provide all the details the recipient needs the first time • Focusing on the customer’s needs and making sure you’ve met those needs before ending an interaction • Releasing a product that represents the best of your team’s abilities, not the result of frenzied multitasking •
Making decisions that reflect your company’s values instead of decisions that solve the short-term problem as quickly as possible
• Being intentional about how you communicate and how you spend your time
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MINDFULNESS IN THE WORKPLACE? Focus: Employees can maintain higher levels of attentiveness and concentration and spend more time on a given thought, project, or task, then usual. Attention: Mindfulness has been shown to improve the “three qualities of attention”: control, stability, and efficiency. As a result, instead of allowing our minds to wander for approximately half of our waking hours, we gain back control over that time, and we can put it to good use. Behavior: Mindfulness techniques have been shown to enhance the function of parts of the brain and result in superior performance in self-regulation, learning from past experiences, and decision-making.
Other Resources • Oprah & Deepak Chopra 21-Day Meditation Experience • MindValley— Vishen Lakhiani
www.mindvalley.com
• YouTube Meditation Background Music
Berkley Letter
(April 13, 2020)
DEAR COLLEAGUES: Recently, we have been looking for ways to give meaningful support to those who have been most adversely impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. W. R. Berkley Corporation will be donating $1 million to foodbanks, children’s assistance programs, and COVID-19 response programs during the coming weeks. In addition, The Berkley Family Foundation and W. R. Berkley Corporation will each match the total amount raised by employees, up to a maximum of $1 million. This creates the potential for our combined giving to reach a total of $4 million, which would make a significant difference to these organizations and the people they serve. After careful research, the charities we have identified are: Partners in Health: www.pih.org Partners In Health is launching a comprehensive effort across its network of supported countries to contain and control the spread of the virus, ensure that patients are provided dignified care, and demonstrate to the world what aggressive action in vulnerable settings can achieve. Project C.U.R.E. : www.projectcure.org Project C.U.R.E. is working with local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in the C.U.R.E. Communities where they have Distribution Warehouses in the U.S. to protect the lives of first responders and medical professionals both in the United States and around the world. Feeding America COVID-19 Fund : www.feedingamerica.org Feeding America’s stated mission is to feed America’s hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and engage the country in the fight to end hunger. Children’s Aid a/k/a Children’s Aid Society: ChildrensAidNYC.org Children’s Aid serves some of New York City’s most under-resourced neighborhoods: Harlem, Washington Heights, the South Bronx, and northern Staten Island. The youth and families served in these communities live in poverty. Please make your check(s) to the extent you wish to contribute payable to the organization(s) you have selected and forward to Brett Dubin, W. R. Berkley Corporation, 475 Steamboat Road, Greenwich, CT 06830 by May 1. It is important that you write “COVID-19 Response” in the memo line on your check(s).
We realize that this is a time when we are all apprehensive—about today and about the future. We know that there are many ways to be supportive, and that many of you are already helping those in your communities, through volunteering, assisting friends and neighbors, and many other acts of kindness and generosity. But, this is also a time when we can collectively have an additional impact—every dollar will help. We hope you will consider participating. Thank you and continue to stay well. Bill Berkley and Rob Berkley