Employers – the Pandemic is an Opportunity and You’re Missing It!

True stories…

Manager: One of my employees is really upset about the pandemic and the furlough.  She’s very worried about her co-workers losing their jobs permanently.  She seems to be having a lot of anxiety and is often flustered.  I’m hearing from others that she said she feels like a panic attack is coming on.

Me: Have you talked with her directly about all of this?

Manager: Well, no.

Another one…

CFO: It’s May – I haven’t heard from Dan since we closed the office back in March. 

Me: Has he been working?

CFO: I don’t think so.

Me: Has he been getting paid?

CFO: Yes.

And finally…

Owner: We have an employee who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Me: Oh no, I’m so sorry!  Let’s talk through next steps.

Owner: First thing I want to know is – do I have to pay him?

Sigh.

(Sidebar: I sigh a lot.  I think it’s a requirement in HR.  I never do it audibly to a client or employee; just to myself and my team members.  In truth, my sigh is me taking a moment to gather the energy and strength to deal with the situation to the best of my ability.  It also gives me a second to throw it up to God and ask ‘Jesus, take the wheel.’) 

The COVID-19 pandemic sucks.  There, I said it.  It does…it sucks for everyone.  I have seen employers, especially small businesses, be hit particularly hard during this time.  Some have reacted better than others.  But when it comes to employees, the pandemic is truly an opportunity for employers to shine.  Unfortunately, a lot of them are missing it.

I realize as an employer you are crazy busy right now, you’re overwhelmed, you’re stressed – but how do you think your people feel?!? 

Employers have to communicate!  If you know an employee is having a hard time and/or you’re hearing whispers through the company grapevine, talk to them!  Show the employee you care about them!  You may not have all the answers, but you can lend a friendly ear.  And that means so much to employees.  Staying silent tells employees they are not a priority. 

I wish I could say that my story about the disappearing employee was a one and done…but no.  Several employees have seemingly fallen off the planet as offices have closed and employees have been directed to work remotely.  A message to employers – it is your responsibility to stay in contact with your people!  You have to maintain levels of accountability with a remote workforce.  And it can be done!  And done well!  By not reaching out, you’re sending the message that you don’t care.  And that their work doesn’t matter.  If you are foolish enough to continue payroll for an absent employee, you have no one but yourself to blame. 

I can appreciate that the mandates set forth under FFCRA are brand new territory for a lot of employers.  Most of the businesses I work with are well under 50 employees, so the concept of eFMLA has been a bit of a shock.  That said – could pay to an employee undergoing treatment for possible COVID not be the first thing we worry about?  How about empathy for the employee, their family, their co-workers?  How about taking the appropriate steps to ensure spread is not detected in the workplace?  No, we jump right to the cost of the situation.  I get it but employers have to be aware of the message this thinking sends to the employees.  Companies can create mission/vision/values statements all day long that state employees are their number one priority, their greatest asset – but if they don’t ‘walk the walk’ those statements mean nothing. 

C.S. Lewis said, “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.”  I encourage employers to find the opportunities to do the right thing during this terrible pandemic.  Your employees will never forget it.