A Majority of Workers Fear Layoffs & Cuts Due to Coronavirus Closures

Monster recently conducted two polls to analyze and take a more in-depth look into the perspectives of both employees and employers during the present Coronavirus pandemic situation. The surveys were conducted to gain insight into how the companies and employees are handling the current environment.

Employees

• More than 80% of the employees across various organizations are concerned about their job security in light of the Coronavirus. With many companies laying off their employees as a cost-cutting strategy to incur losses during the tough time, this is a definite worry among the people.
• Nearly half of the employees (48%) do not feel supported by their boss during this crisis. This is a hard situation wherein some organizations, the employers or bosses are not allowing work-from-home or cutting salaries for absence and making it tougher for their workers.
• Only 34% of parents who are working from home are concerned about their ability to do both at the same time. This is an exciting aspect to observe as in times to come; people would have to work from home for more days.

Employers

• Less than 20% of the employers are increasing their sick time or PTO for employees but rather are prioritizing preventative measures like implementing WFH policies.
• Nearly about 80% of respondents are concerned about productivity and business success because of the Coronavirus situation.
• The majority of employers, around 57%, would consider changing their work from home policies indefinitely if working from home proves productive during the Coronavirus pandemic.

What should Employers do?

• If employers are running a business having younger employees and in an area with limited or no cases of COVID-19, it is not mandatory to send workers home immediately.
• However, if there are COVID-19 cases in the area, there are older employees, or if the workers need to travel to any high-risk area, it is essential to let the employees work from home.
• For organizations allowing work-from-home, their IT departments should be prepared for providing laptops and tech essentials to those who need them so that the employees can access company systems from their home.
• Companies and organizations should encourage their employees not to travel and cancel all travel plans at this time. Virtual meetings and virtual conferences are best at this time.
• Organizations should encourage all employees to stay home if they have any symptoms of illness.
• Organizations should organize communication campaigns towards disseminating information about the virus to their employees and help them to gear up.
• Employers should review their PTO and sick leave policies for the betterment of their employees.
• It is of utmost importance that organizations and employees practice and encourage empathy at this time of uncertainty and stress. It is essential primarily as the fear of COVID-19 can lead to a social stigma toward certain people or places. It may also result in shame or avoidance of people who have been quarantined for the disease. Employers should discourage negative behavior or beliefs among their employees.

To reduce the spread of the virus, the World Health Organization (WHO) suggested the following precautionary measures:

• Stay home when you are sick.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a
• Conduct regular household with cleaning spray or wipe.
• If you have fever, coughs, or difficulty in breathing, seek medical care early.
• Stay informed and follow advice given by your healthcare provider.

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