The menacing tsunami of COVID 19 has wreaked our lives and engulfed all of us in its raging waves. This tidal wave has spread savagely and rapidly across our neighbourhoods, communities, and towns. The vicious contagion relentlessly continues its brutal rampage crippling our lives and threatening our survival. The colossal collapse in the healthcare system has only aggravated the situation and brought us to our knees.
Employees are fatigued, overstretched and overstressed with the persistently blurred lines between home and office. Now confronted with the apocalyptic spread of the virus, the employees’ cup of woes is overflowing with an overload of professional and personal challenges. The fear of impending danger and the grief from the loss of loved ones weighs heavily upon them. And all this is apart from the financial insecurities that are exacerbated amidst an uncertain and bleak future.
Business operations are once again disrupted. The resilience and agility required to survive and revive from this second wave is indeed a tall order. However, even while COVID cannot defeat or break us, it cannot be denied that there is an invisible enemy that has invaded our homes and offices and threatens our very existence. Organisations are then compelled to adapt and retrace their steps to meet the challenges and reset priorities to weather the storm. Certainly, the present Covid surge is not the time for employers to take stern iron-fisted and harsh actions to try and set right the bottom and top line. Nothing at this stage is more important than working with fortitude and determination to save lives.
Indeed, we are increasingly witnessing organisations working together with a new resolve and solidarity to salvage lives from the human tragedy that confronts us. The realisation of the interconnectedness and interdependence of our lives has brought about a massive and visible shift in workplace priorities. Corporate politics, fierce professional rivalry and ruthless business imperatives for competitive advantage have been eclipsed and the focus has shifted to the human side of business. Humanity has come together for the survival of mankind giving a whole new meaning to the People First agenda. The focus at the workplace has shifted squarely onto the wellbeing of employees and their families.
The commitment and security that organisations have extended to their employees is indeed commendable and the survival kit being provided seems to have all the essential ingredients including financial and medical support as well as provision for providing vaccinations. However, in the current circumstances, the organisation cannot stop short with this tool kit alone. Organisations are also obliged to ensure the emotional and mental wellbeing of their employees. Being humane and recognizing the connectedness of every human being is then the crying need of every workplace. This is necessary to address the equally painful and contagious whirlpool of anxiety, grief, confusion, fear, worry and despair engulfing all employees. This vortex of emotions threatens to break their spirit and will power even more than the virus itself.
Accordingly, as we traverse through these extremely unpredictable and troubled times, Compassion, Empathy and Kindness are the critical investments organisations need for the magical healing that employees desperately need. Going the extra mile to reach out, a word of reassurance, a helping hand and a shoulder to cry on could make the cutting-edge difference to negate the overpowering negativity and pain that are presently consuming employees. This could also pave the way to hope and give them the faith that the storm will calm so that healing can begin. Equipped with this hope and faith, employees will be sufficiently recharged and empowered so that they can work together to reconstruct their organisations and move towards the path of rejuvenation and wellness.
Yes! Everyone and everything will and must surely be well again. But we can only be all well and no one can really be well until everyone is. Let us then collectively make every effort to be there for one another and for everyone.