#coronavirus #covid19 #jobs #layoffs #FlattenTheCurve
Employers of all sizes are in a bind.
Many have to stay closed to keep up with social distancing in the age of Covid-19.
Yet, they don’t want to lose the workers that made them successful prior to the spread of the virus, and will want them back when things open up again.
Jena McGregor looked at this issue in an article for the Washington Post. It was also published April 3, 2020, in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“We don’t want our teammates to worry about their jobs during a time like this,” the article quotes Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan. “We told them there’s no issue; you’re going to be working now through year end. No layoffs, nothing. We’ll continue to pay everybody,” Moynihan continued.
Meanwhile, Salesforce.com Chief Executive Marc Benioff pledged March 25 “not to conduct any significant layoffs over the next 90 days” and to continue to pay hourly workers while offices are shut down, McGregor writes.
The article points out that large corporations with big cash reserves are better able to avoid layoffs during the current crisis than small companies or those in hard-hit sectors.
Companies that were scrambling to hire people just weeks ago may also worry about getting caught without them once the worst is over, McGregor quotes Jeffrey Pfeffer, a professor at Stanford University’s business school.
Again, it’s a tough spot for employees, but also a tough spot for their employers.
Federal aid for both appears to be on its way, but may not arrive for weeks.
It’s clear not all of the businesses that were up and running before the pandemic hit will be able to recover quickly. Some may not recover at all, and will go out of business.
If this crisis brings uncertainty to your life, as it does for many, know that you have several options out there that allow you to make an income by not only working remotely, but also avoiding a lot of personal contact. And the bonus is that once the crisis is over, you can work these programs in a more face-to-face manner.
To learn about one of best of these programs, message me.
Meanwhile, above all, stay safe, stay in as much as possible and presume you are a carrier of the virus, even if you feel good.
The slowness and selectivity of testing may leave many carriers out there who may never know they are carriers.
Wash your hands frequently, and clean surfaces you touch thoroughly.
At the same time, stay in touch with folks, even if you can’t see them. Know that those you love, even if you can’t see or touch them now, appreciate hearing your voice or seeing your face through the various technical options for video conferencing.
It’s a tough time at the moment, but it will pass. We just don’t know when. And, we don’t know whether this virus, or some other, will shut us down again.
Staying free of illness and helping others do the same is all that matters right now. You can deal with the uncertainties later.
Peter