Across social media, people have made reference to how each day seems a month long or how many years it seems since the first physical distancing started. In most small businesses, the rush and uncertainty creates the same effect.
What happens next is partly unknown. You do control your planning and how you are treating employees now. The HR world and a fair amount of public comments have highlighted those employers who have not treated employees well. Zoom meetings to tell everyone watching they were out of a job, cuts in pay at lower levels only, and poor safety are among those you are most likely to have seen. I mention this because how any employer treats people during such an emergency directly hits future retention as well as hiring.
Are you or your managers talking to employees individually?
Do you make time for asking how they and their families are doing?
For a little small talk beyond just a work assignment?
Offering some help with a problem that is hindering their work?
Have you maintained regular communications across the organization too?
Sharing articles is another helpful form of communications. Here is one on working from home – New rules for remote work-pandemic edition
A guide on coping and developing resilience is from UC Berkeley’s Greater Good center Guide to well-being
What Are You Planning for the Future?
Now is the time to think about what your organization will look like in one month, three months, and through the end of the calendar year. Yes, this shutdown has no defined end yet. And there are indications a future shutdown is possible later this year. But you need to plan, based on your values and the current conditions of your organization. Carpe diem indeed.
If you […]
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