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VM brings you the latest information from optical companies and organizations responding to the coronavirus. The McGee Group will begin a phased and safe process to bring its employees back to its corporate offices in Marietta, Georgia on May 18. The company first shifted the majority of its employees to remote work in March and put in place stringent cleaning procedures to ensure customer safety. Moving forward, some employees will have the option to continue to work remotely as appropriate. To keep the number of people in the office low at any given time, each of the company’s departments will put in place a schedule that rotates employees in and out of the building on shifts. For those who come into the office, protective gear, such as masks and gloves, will be provided.

To work in the office, each employee will have to answer a series of health screening questions and have their temperature checked daily upon arrival. All employees must also wear a mask upon arrival to the building and when walking through hallways or any common areas. Employees will remain in their offices for all work, relying on phone calls and videoconferences to conduct any collaboration with a colleague, and the break room will be closed for the foreseeable future, with employees eating lunch at their desk or outside.

The McGee Group has also appointed an internal committee that will monitor staff to ensure compliance with the new hygiene guidelines, and posters and flyers will be posted throughout the office to remind employees about handwashing, social distancing and other best practices. Additionally, The McGee Group has implemented several new cleaning practices and thoroughly disinfected its air ducts and carpets, and the office will undergo a deep cleaning three times a week.

Outside the office, The McGee Group is working to provide its sales representatives with PPE gear, hand sanitizer and cleaning products for all meetings, and they will adhere to the respective health and safety guidelines established by their customers. They also have been trained on how to properly sanitize sample eyewear frames.

Matt McGee, EVP of The McGee Group, said, “I’m so proud of the resilience and passion of our team throughout the past few months, seeing their commitment to serving our customers and taking care of our communities. There’s no doubt the past few months has changed the way we live, work and play, but we view this change as an opportunity to explore and embrace ways to grow, innovate and lead our industry. We know much of these waters are unchartered, but we are eager to forge ahead in our journey with all of our partners.”

Weston McGee, CIO at The McGee Group said, “Throughout the past two months, we strived to find ways to ensure our connectivity would not be severed, despite the challenges of physical separation. When it comes to our colleagues, our teams and our partners across the industry, we have long believed that we are ‘better together.’ As such, we have continued to invest in the relationships that we have built and nurtured for more than 40 years, knowing that this physical separation wouldn’t diminish the strong bonds and collaborative spirit that has defined us. We’ll come together again in a way that ensures all of us are safe, healthy and secure.”

Wiley X is working with John Marchand, mayor of Livermore, California, where the company is headquartered, to provide 10,000 KN95 masks for local distribution. Wiley X will donate these masks to local hospitals, law enforcement officers, fire personnel, and health care professionals. In addition, the company is donating 20,000 face shields to ECPs across the country. These face shields come equipped with a protective PET plastic shield with an anti-fog coating, elastic strap, and brow foam which allows a universal fit. Interested ECPs can contact the company via phone at 1-877-4WILEYX or email at opitcalcs@wileyx.com.

Finally, Wiley X is operational and actively taking orders for other PPE such as nitrile gloves, protective eyewear, protective goggles, face shields, and KN95 masks, as well as its regular protective eyewear.

Myles Freeman, president of sales and co-owner of Wiley X said, "We’re all in this together and love our community, including EMTs, firefighters, law enforcement officers, and essential city staff. We are also forever grateful for the loyal eyecare professionals around the country who have helped us become a globally recognized eyewear and sunglass brand. We are honored to be able to give back to those working the front lines and have put themselves at risk providing such valuable services to our community.”

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