Hallmark Temporarily Closes Headquarters Due to Employee’s Potential Exposure to COVID-19

Hallmark Cards, Inc. is temporarily closing its Kansas City headquarters at Crown Center for 48 hours as a precautionary measure after one employee was potentially exposed to coronavirus (COVID-19) in a social setting outside of work, which became known to the employee only after their return to work. Cleaning crews will be cleaning high-touch surfaces and public areas such as the cafeteria and card shop, as well as focusing on conference rooms and work spaces that this individual may have come in contact with. The individual affected is in self-quarantine, as well as the others who may have come in contact with them.

“The health and safety of our employees is our top priority,” said Sabrina Wiewel, Chief Administrative Officer, Hallmark Cards, Inc. “Out of an abundance of caution, we decided to temporarily close our headquarters facility for 48 hours and have our employees who can work from home to do so. Those who cannot perform job functions at home will be paid for this time.”

Hallmark has a COVID-19 task force that has been monitoring this rapidly evolving situation and utilizing guidance from the CDC, World Health Organization (WHO), and local public health and emergency response agencies. The task force will continue to evaluate this situation and take additional action if needed.

About Hallmark

For more than 100 years, family-owned Hallmark Cards, Inc. has been dedicated to creating a more emotionally connected world. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri and employing 30,000 worldwide, the approximately $4 billion company operates a diversified portfolio of businesses. Its global Hallmark Greetings business sells greeting cards, gift wrap and related products in more than 30 languages with distribution in more than 100 countries and 100,000 rooftops worldwide. Hallmark Retail operates about 2,000 Hallmark Gold Crown stores in five countries. Crayola® offers a wide range of art materials and creative play toys designed to spark children’s creativity around the globe. Crown Media Family Networks operates three cable channels – Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, and Hallmark Drama – in addition to Hallmark Publishing, the e-books division of the Hallmark channels, and Hallmark Movies Now, a subscription-based streaming service. Crown Center is a real estate development company that manages the 85-acre hotel, office, entertainment and residential campus surrounding Hallmark’s headquarters.