…ERGO control centre
Utilities in times of coronavirus
Richard van de Ven from ERGO's main control centre in Düsseldorf
People & stories, 06.04.2020
Electricity, water, heating, cooling and ventilation – all of them have to keep working at ER-GO locations, even in coronavirus times. In Düsseldorf, Richard van de Ven and his team in the main control centre ensure that they do – with a special plan of action and the coronavirus rules always in the back of their minds.
Hello Richard, where are you at the moment?
Richard van de Ven: Unusually, I'm working from home, but in close contact with colleagues on site by phone and laptop.
What are currently the most important functions?
The computer centre must be 100% operational, and we make sure it has electricity and air-conditioning. The computer centre is operating normally – and it needs to be with so many colleagues now working at home. In addition, maintenance and repairs have to continue as planned.
Has the coronavirus affected the way people work?
Of course, it's in the back of your mind. You can't shut it out completely. We try to keep the risks to a minimum. Most colleagues come directly to work by bike or by car. Only a limited number of people can be in the control rooms at the same time, and a distance of 1.5 metres is maintained. Around 30 service-provider employees are also always on site. They are virtually all from firms we have known for years, and we know that they respect the coronavirus rules, which at the moment is very important.
By Willy Lünstroth
People & stories 02.04.2020
Change of shift at a safe distance
More than 11,000 ERGO employees in Germany only are currently working mobile from home. However, to keep our business going, some staff have to go into the office – at the ERGO printing centre in Düsseldorf for example.
Team of gardeners combats drought
259 large trees, hundreds of bushes, more than 28,000 square metres of planted areas, 2,700 office plants. Plenty of work for ERGO gardeners at the Düsseldorf location. Even if some things are currently different.
ERGO company physician Carmen Jux is on permanent duty because of COVID-19
The coronavirus has also changed the working day of ERGO company doctors. They are currently online (almost) 24 hours a day. Also Carmen Jux.