TIPS: COVID19 – Lessons Learned ... Second Wave

It appears the predictions of a second COVID19 wave are accurate. What does this mean for your business? What have you learned from the first wave that will prepare you now? Second wave issues include:

Hoax? – Surveys report that about 25% - 40% of Americans believe the pandemic is a hoax or overstated. Regardless of what you think, the economic impact is real. Supplies of common goods are often “out of stock” and being horded. The business question is what should you do to convince your employees and customers that it is safe to do business with you? The first step is to develop your business response to the pandemic and communicate it to customers and employees. If you change your point of view, announce it. Dead air creates an opportunity for misunderstanding.

Supply Chain – For many businesses their supply chain for goods and services has been disrupted. All businesses are part of some supply chain that has been affected. Even businesses that compete with each other are now creating common supply chains to stay open. The point is “we are all in this together”. Cooperation works better than competition.

Emotional Exhaustion – Promises of a quick resolution to the pandemic along with the belief that things will get better have raised expectations that “this will all be over soon.” Premature celebrations followed by delays in a final cure have weaken resolve to stay engaged and follow safety rules. Riding these emotional peaks and valleys over an extended period leads to exhaustion. 

During the second wave, the business issue is how to balance the 24-7 needs of the customer with the employee’s need for time to recover. This will require rethinking the “work week”, and the practice of reserving blocks of paid time away from work. Employment laws and worker rights will need to be adjusted to this evolving reality. Many businesses have or are experimenting with “flex” work and rest schedules tied to the rhythms of the business or customer. The 40-hour work week and compensation tied to an hourly rate is dead or dying.

Would it help to have a more complete list of second wave issues and options? Contact me at [email protected] for a no cost guide on what others are doing to ride the second wave.