So many of us are fortunate.  Fortunate to have jobs that stress us out, fortunate that we are not infected with COVID-19, fortunate to be able to afford the things we need. That being said, the “new normal” still doesn’t feel that normal, and employees and managers throughout businesses are feeling the strain of balancing home-schooling kids, cramped workspaces, and hours on Zoom. 

It’s a challenging time for everyone, but the most important thing for companies to do right now is to take care of their employees. The first step is to take care of an employee’s health and safety, followed closely by taking care of their emotional well-being. 

As a leader, how you communicate is essential.  We understand how stressful this time is.  Still, speaking with respect, empathy and compassion can make all the difference to those whose careers are in your hands. 

• Navigating health benefits 
• How to safely access medical care 
• Costs of COVID-19 testing
• Workplace safety and hygiene policies 
• Paid time off and leave policies
• Self-care – ways to manage stress and anxiety
• How to handle chronic medical needs
• Caregiving tips for children and elders
• Social isolation
• Financial worries
• Layoffs and furloughs 

Do your best to provide education and resources to help address their concerns, and if you don’t know the answers — be honest. It’s okay not to have all the answers as this situation is extremely dynamic.

In addition to addressing employee’s worries and questions, employers are also challenged with how to keep their work environments safe. Industries like healthcare, retail, manufacturing, and construction need healthy employees to maintain daily operations. For example, some employers are now turning to temperature screenings as an additional measure to slow the spread of the virus by identifying employees who have a fever. Unfortunately, employees may have COVID-19 without having a fever, so temperature checks alone are not the most effective measures.

Another option that employers may want to consider is the use of home testing kits. One of the huge gaps in this country right now has been lack of testing, and over the next week, at least four startups, including Nurx, EverlyWell, Scanwell Health, and Carbon Health, are launching at-home tests for COVID-19.

We’re living in unprecedented times right now with disruptions to our lives and communities. We will get through this, but taking care of your employees is more important than ever. Find ways to help employees stay healthy, maintain some sense of normalcy, and reduce their stress during this time. Oh, and stay at home if you can. It could lessen the spread and save a life.