Be prepared not alarmed, stay informed and fight misinformation.

As advised by the WA Government Western Australians should be going about their business as usual, preparing for the time in the coming weeks and months to conduct business in unusual circumstances. It is necessary that we remain calm and use common sense. Most importantly we LEAD and ACT. 

In a couple of words, my message and the message from Business News is to be prepared not alarmed, stay informed and fight misinformation.

The COVID-19 virus is serious. The outbreak is evolving rapidly across the globe, while locally, the outbreak is still in its infancy with no local transmissions yet identified in WA. But families and businesses should be preparing for the range of scenarios that may occur in the coming months. After the social distancing announcements from the Prime Minister, the Premier and Chief Medical Officers, business leaders will be considering how they can best protect their employees as well as ensuring the continuity of business operations.

Both State and Federal governments are giving every indication that more social distancing measures are likely – they are fully focused on delaying and stretching out the peak of the epidemic and in doing so reduce stress on the health system as well as the number of people who will be impacted by the virus. I feel more comfortable now that inbound international travellers need to self-isolate for 14 days. But the government has been clear that currently there is no postponement of gatherings under 500, they have not closed schools, universities, public transport, airports, sports clubs, churches, gyms, however they are ready to act on these, as outlined in the pandemic plan (https://www.wa.gov.au/covid19), if they need to and they have committed that they will. So, planning and preparing managers and employees now, to work from home will be vital in keeping teams whole and enduring challenges such as a downturn in trade and supply.

Our team has confidence that with the intense focus, our governments understand the best timing for further restricting movements and gatherings. The medical people advising government are the best in the world and have the best information at hand. Until there is a certain presence of the virus in the community it is statistically illogical to cease working in offices or riding public transport. However we need to be prepared for that possibility or eventuality and while we have confidence and will allow government to lead, there may be times we consider it prudent to move ahead of the advice.

Western Australian businesses have proven over the past 7 years how resilient we are and that we face adversity head on. We all provide goods and services that are needed, that’s why we are in business. But, for most of us, at some point over the coming weeks and months how we do that will need to change. WA businesses need to make prudent choices to protect the health of the community that we belong to, without creating unnecessary disruption to the normal pursuit of business productivity. 

For over 26 years, Business News has been a trusted, independent source for quality news and information, empowering business owners, directors and leaders with critical, timely data and ability to connect, enabling well informed commercial decisions. We don’t take that responsibility lightly. Our team will continue scouring information for credible sources providing balanced news and intelligence that you can trust. All leaders in WA should be promoting the correct information and fighting misinformation. Don’t hesitate to share reliable, accurate information with your employees.

To help this, Business News has made all COVID-19 virus related news and information free to read and share. We have also updated the BN phone app to have push notifications for breaking news.

Maintaining a productive workforce is about to have a whole new meaning with virtual management. Our team have started utilising cloud conferencing solutions to enable both workplace collaboration and client communication. Meetings, brainstorms, 1on1 performance assessments and even drinks on a Friday for us will maintain connection. We have had to think through and find innovative solutions to even some of the most basic processes, and we are a business that can mostly deliver without being physically face to face. I encourage all business leaders to consider how they will keep their workforce productive as well as provide tools to do so. 

The other 3 broader things on my mind right now

1.    Short Term Liquidity for small and medium enterprises. This is not the global financial crisis; it is not an aftershock from overly-levered subprime derivatives in the US. It is a global pandemic infecting workforces and closing borders. It will influence the economy at pretty much every level, but if businesses and the economy remain somewhat productive - life would rapidly return to normal on the other side.

2.    Keeping Local Supply Chains Running. Keeping businesses open, not raising prices and remaining stocked with necessary supplies will be vital as will courier and delivery services.

3.    What Government Support will there be for Business and Employees? Government needs to be focused on how businesses will retain as many employees as possible. My hope is they adopt some of the elements from assistance packages being released around the world such as the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan scheme in the UK; Capped government rebates on sick pay over 5 consecutive days; Lowering the cost of living for employees by pausing or subsidising residence utility bills.

Unfortunately, for many of us, with the steps we are taking to protect the health of the community and the continuity of the business operation, significant inconvenience and personal sacrifice will be involved. Working from home is hard and distracting at the best of times, let alone when under the pressure of a pandemic. Please be sensitive to each other’s burdens in this situation and make accommodations when we can.

I also have every confidence in our community’s ability to pull together with kindness, care and concern for the common good.

So, as I said at the start, generally Western Australians should be going about their business as usual, but, stay informed, follow reputable advice and make preparations now for the continuity of running your business. Lead and act. Be prepared, not alarmed - stay informed and fight misinformation.

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