Electrolux worked to protect the health and safety of 48,000 employees across 120 markets during the coronavirus pandemic.

Global guidance - local action

As the impact on regions and countries varied in terms of infection rates during the pandemic, and business and manufacturing operations were subject to local guidelines and restrictions to comply with, a unique approach was required. On a global level, Electrolux devised a methodology that could be adapted to different conditions across its global sites with the use of a country Incidence Rate (IR) measurement.

The IR was measured by using the total number of positive new cases over 30 days, divided by the regional population multiplied by 10,000 people. Based on this figure at individual sites, Electrolux defined four clear phases that informed what can and should be done in terms of activities across our sites.

Phase 1: Red – IR over 301
Phase 2: Orange – IR between 121-300
Phase 3: Yellow – IR between 16-200
Phase 4: Green – IR between 0-15

These threshold values were determined following a review of Global Electrolux data and activities for each of the four phases, and were applied across the Group.

Each phase outlines what is expected or limited for a site in terms of, for example, people screenings, visitors, drivers and supplier, PPE, level of disinfection and cleaning, international and domestic travel, physical distancing, on-site work as well as trainings, meetings and events.

For each site, the IR value is calculated weekly and the respective phase of that site and what activities are allowed is adjusted accordingly.

“We remain committed to being one of the safest companies in the appliance industry as we continue to put our employees’ health and safety first,” says Giuseppe Caiulo, Head of Group Environmental Health and Safety at Electrolux.

Read more on our approach and progress in our Promise Act ethically lead in diversity and respect human rights.