• 16-Mar-2020

Employer’s Role in avoiding Coronavirus Panic

Our planet is battling the COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. At various levels, governments and people are trying their best to combat it, in and around South Asia.

At this alarming rate where coronavirus has spread its tentacles all over the world the least someone can contribute is to spread awareness and avoid rumors. The role that employers play in the response to Covid-19 is therefore critical. In this article, the contribution of the employer will be highlighted because an employee spends most of his/her time at the workplace. Covid-19 is probably going to reach every country sooner or later, and some measure of disruption is inevitable when it does. There are three important ways in which businesses and other employers can prepare and react to ensure that they mitigate the adverse impacts on their operations and wider society, instead of feeding them.

1.  Sanitizing the workplace

A victim of Covid-19 starts to show its symptoms 4-6 days after getting the infection. What about those days when the infection spreads unconsciously? It is very important to sanitize the workplace regularly. Monitors, keyboard, mouse, doors, desks, chairs and other places and things at the workplace must be sanitized regularly. Let’s face it we cannot win over the virus but we can reduce the chances of getting infected.

2. Communication is a key to spread awareness

People are not completely aware of the virus and its precautions. They believe the rumors very easily. At the workplace, the employees can be made aware of what Covid-19 is and how it can be prevented. All the guidelines such as “Say no to handshakes” and “Wash your hands regularly” can be given to the employees regularly so that the employees know how they can reduce the risk of getting infected.

3. Work from Home policy

Employers are using the policy of “Work from home” because it is better to stay at home and work rather than getting infected or infecting others. This policy needs to be closely monitored because the employer needs to ensure beforehand that the employees have appropriate means to resume the work from home. If the employee does not have proper means to work from home then the gap should be bridged as required.

Google, Microsoft, Twitter. Hitachi, Apple, Amazon. Chevron, Salesforce, Spotify. From the UK to the US, Japan to South Korea, these are all global companies that have, in the last few days, rolled out mandatory work-from-home policies amid the spread of Covid-19.

4. Providing Sanitizers and Masks 

As we know that sanitizers and masks can help in reducing the risk of infections but due to high demand the supply of these valuable products is reduced. People are charged ridiculously for sanitizers and masks. At this alarming rate, it would be very helpful for the employees if the masks and sanitizers are available at the workplace.

Thus, this global pandemic is definitely an alarming situation. All we can do is to play our role and contribute to reduce this panic. Stay Safe, Stay Healthy.