Shell and Motiva Employee Assistance
Hurricane Katrina plowed its way through the Gulf Coast along Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama leaving unimaginable devastation in its wake. Our thoughts and prayers are with our employees, their families and friends who have been so terribly hurt by this tragedy.
General
All employees should contact their supervisor or manager as soon as possible to help us manage both personal and work-related needs. In some cases, contact may not be possible and/or getting to work is not physically possible. In some areas, access has been restricted by the local or state police. In other cases, we may not have work to do until facility issues are resolved. As such, in those cases where employees are not allowed to return to work, either because access is restricted or because there is not immediate work that can be done, the following salary continuation will apply.
Employee assistance interest-free loan program:
In an effort to help Shell employees affected by Hurricane Katrina, an Interest Free-Loan Program will be provided to employees. Employees needing transportation, clothing and shelter can apply for an immediate loan of up to $2,500. Employees will have five years to repay this loan.
Employees needing to make repairs to their homes or replace furniture or major appliances, which are not covered by insurance or FEMA benefits, can apply for an additional loan of up to $7,500. Reimbursement of the total loan (up to $10,000) may be over a five-year period. This $10,000 limit includes any outstanding interest free loans an employee may have (e.g., Tropical Storm Allison, Home PC Purchase, etc.).
Due to the magnitude of the damage to employees' residences in the impacted area, Shell and Motiva are increasing their interest free loan program to add a third tier directed at costs associated with major damage to an employee's primary residence. This new feature will allow an interest free loan for up to $40,000, repayable over a 10 year period in addition to the current loan program of $2,500 for emergency cash and the $7,500 available for repairs and replacement, bringing the total available for an interest free loan to $50,000. The intent of this third tier loan is to supplement employees' homeowner's and flood insurance and the assistance available from FEMA and other governmental agencies. Please contact the Shell Emergency Response Line (866-745-5489 or 877-40-SHELL or email katrinahelp@shell.com) for details including process and documentation requirements.
The three loan options are available for active Shell and Motiva employees. Although all of these loans are interest free, employees will sign a promissory note. Repayment of these loans will be handled through payroll deductions.
Employees affected by the hurricane by either evacuation or otherwise should check with their local HR representative for information about reporting time off and inquiries about obtaining any of these interest-free loans.
Helping Employees Who are Helping Others
In addition to the expanded Interest-Free Loan Program, the temporary living supplement, and temporary shelter availability, we are putting in place a new program to assist our active Shell and Motiva employees. This program is directed at employees who are providing lodging to people who have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina, regardless of whether or not the displaced individuals are Shell or Motiva employees.
Shell and Motiva will provide a payment of $250.00 to employees to pay for, or to reimburse, reasonable and necessary personal, family, and living expenses paid on behalf of the displaced individuals. This is only for employees who have taken into their homes people who have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina and are incurring expenses as a result of that kindness. The displaced people may be Shell or Motiva employees, or family members, friends or anyone who was displaced due to this disaster.
This will be a tax-free payment. However, the employee should document their proper use of these funds in case they are ever examined by the IRS, including keeping a record of who the displaced individuals are and a copy of the receipts for which the funds were used. These funds should not be used to offset other charitable contributions the employee may have made, but are to help with the cost of housing and feeding the displaced individuals.
How To Access This Benefit
Employees may call either 877-40-SHELL or 866-745-5489 for assistance (the toll-free Shell Emergency Response Lines) and choose Option 1 (Employee Pay and Loan Assistance Line) or they may e-mail katrinahelp@shell.com. Employees will be expected to provide information to validate that they are a Shell or Motiva employee and will be required to give the name and address of the displaced individuals they are helping for our records. This money will then go into the regular Shell People payroll process and should show up in the employee's account within 2-3 business days. More details are available when the employee applies for these funds.
Salary Continuation:
Salary continuation will be provided for all Shell and Motiva employees if you are unable to travel to work or if you are not required at your locations at this time due to the impact of Hurricane Katrina. Salary continuation will be based on your normal forward work schedule.
The duration of this salary continuation will initially be through September 16, 2005, but will be reviewed and extended as needed by the Company as the current situation evolves.
Temporary Living Supplement:
An allowance will be provided to assist displaced employees in meeting the added costs as a result of being displaced from their homes due to Hurricane damage. The duration of this temporary living will initially be through September 30,2005, but will be reviewed for possible extension when more details are known.
Employees will be reimbursed for up to $160.00 per day for expenses associated with housing and food that are not otherwise available for reimbursement from your homeowner's insurance or governmental agencies. These may include food and lodging if staying in a hotel or food and other related expenses if staying with friends and family. Receipts will be required.
Contact your local HR representative for additional questions.
Have Space or Need Space
We have arranged for the Shell Relocation Center (1-800-248-8975) to help facilitate those people who have extra space and are willing to house Shell and Motiva employees needing temporary shelter. For employees who are willing to provide temporary accommodations, please call this number or e-mail relocation@shell.com with what you can accommodate; e.g., location, number your are willing to accommodate, and restrictions, etc.
If you need temporary shelter, please contact Shell Relocation Center (1-800-248-8975) or e-mail relocation@shell.com with your needs. Please be prepared to give your Shell or Motiva employee number in addition to other relevant data.
If you are in need of a hotel room, please call 1-713-241-8050 and we will attempt to locate available space. While we can not guarantee space availability, hopefully this matching service will be of some help to our Shell and Motiva colleagues
Payroll Services
Assistance to active employees for payment of employee assistance loans and delivery of pay that may be delayed or uncertain due to mail and banking disruptions is available by calling the Shell Emergency Response Line at 866-745-5489 or 877-40-SHELL or email katrinahelp@shell.com, as noted below. Payroll Services staff will work with active employees to issue replacement checks, redirect direct deposits to other banks, or make special arrangements on pay and loan issues.
The Shell New Orleans Credit Union (NOCU) is poised to help members in any way they can. The August 31, 2005 payroll has been posted to all New Orleans Credit Union (NOCU) accounts and the NOCU website www.shellnofcu.com is up and running for employees to view account balances and activity including access to online bill paying services.
Access to partner banks in several states is listed on the NOCU website at www.shellnofcu.com and low interest loans will be available for those people impacted by the storm.
New Orleans Credit Union (NOCU) representatives are onsite in Houston at the Information Center, Woodcreek, and Town and Country Village on the following days:
Information Center (Friday and Saturday)
1500 Old Spanish Trail
Houston, TX 77054
Woodcreek (Friday)
200 N. Dairy Ashford #2003
Houston, TX 77079
Town and Country Village (Friday)
650 West Bough #162
Houston, TX 77054
Representatives from the New Orleans credit union can be contacted through the People's Trust Credit Union (formerly known as Shell Employees Federal Credit Union)at 1-800-321-2411 ext 201 or 713-428-3201.
Shell Emergency Response Line
We have activated another toll-free number 877-40-SHELL (877-407-4355), in addition to the current 866-745-5489, to help employees receive location specific information and to speak with an HR representative as soon as possible. Both of these numbers will access the same information and resources via the phone tree put in place to help address your questions related to replacement or redirected payroll, disruptions in banking and mail services, loan assistance, prescription drugs, location specific information, etc. Calls are handled by the Shell People Services team.
Employees can call 866-745-5489 or 877-40-SHELL from 7 AM to 10 PM CST daily, including weekends and the Labor Day holiday and listen carefully to the options before making a selection.
Employees may also access the same information and resources availble through the toll free numbers by emailing katrinahelp@shell.com including general Katrina-related HR questions or issues, to report employee status, obtain payroll services, access the interest-free loan program, temporary living supplement and temporary shelter availability.
Public Health Measures
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has issued helpful advice for those currently in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.
- Be vigilant for safety hazards - in particular flood water, electrical and fire hazards. The main health risk is of food and water borne disease - use clean and secure water and food sources. Follow public health services advice on the safety of tap water.
- Typhoid and cholera are not considered risks - they do not occur in the GOM and are not expected in the aftermath of this disaster.
- No special vaccinations are required at this time. You should seek medical advice for a skin wound and tetanus status review.
- Wear long sleeve clothing and use insect repellant if you have it.
- Alcohol-based hand washes are useful in place of hand washing.
Frequently Asked Questions
As part of our continuing efforts to help Shell and Motiva employees affected by Hurricane Katrina, we have compiled this list of Frequently Asked Questions, which will be updated as additional information becomes available.
Other helpful resources
Employees can also access Lifeworks (888-267-8126), Shell's on-line employee assistance program , that offers free confidential assistance. It aims to help employees and the other important people in their lives get through difficult times by offering practical resources and guidance. The User ID is 'dimensions' and the password is 'lifeworks'.
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