Handling Unemployment as A Business

9/2/2020

As the pandemic continues, many businesses are dealing with the best ways they can support their employees. Here are a few tips and suggestions to help with your company and your employees.

We are now in the third quarter of the year and everyone is getting ready to head back to school. As you and your company continue to manage through the continued pandemic, we know that your employees are at the top of your priority list. We know you're exhausted and tired of hearing "we're all in this together!" and "this is the new normal". We know you are very aware of the situation because you've been dealing with it up close and personal for the last few months. You might have to figure out something new every week for your employees, you might have already found a great new work plan, or you're still searching for what the best options are. No matter where you and your company might be, we want to help as much as possible. This blog is full of different ways you can help your employees during this difficult time.

#1 Families

One of the first things you need to consider is that many if not all of your employees have a family that they're caring for. If you can, take a look at your current standing policies and see if they are beneficial or not to parents, those caring for elderly family members, and so on. Some of the very first employees that will need your consideration are those who are expecting, have an illness, aren't full time, and those who aren't eligible for benefits. If you can offer paid sick leave, benefits for those who don't have them currently, and subsidiaries, that can eliminate a huge amount of stress and burden placed upon their shoulders right now. Think about potentially offering mental health support and other resources to help worried, stressed, or confused employees.

Consider your employees who have school-aged children. They are stuck in the middle of potentially working from home and homeschooling their children. This can add to their stress, affect their work, and interfere with their concentration. Consider offering flexible work hours and being more understanding if a parent needs to care for a child or handle certain situations during the workday. Help them find or offer support for childcare and help them find resources to help with homeschooling.

#2 Too Much Down Time

For some employees who have been sent home to work, this might be their first taste of working from home. Some might be parents but you also need to consider your employees on the other side of the spectrum. Many people went home to work, and they are now working and living alone. Some introverts handle this situation well, but being home alone for long periods can become difficult. It can increase the fear of not knowing what's next, loneliness, frustration, and depression. A long day at the office can easily be remedied if you go somewhere and see friendly facts. When this isn't an option, those difficult days are hard to shake. Even at the end of the workday, you're already at home.

Video meetings and conference calls have become a necessity for our everyday work lives. You can also use these to your advantage. Host social gatherings or and support your employees to have them. As employers, you can use some of your business time to play ice breakers, do brain teasers, or play a game or two of trivia over these digital platforms. You can still celebrate milestone moments, promotions, and celebrations with your employees, too. Suggest that your employees meet for virtual lunch hours, coffee meetings, or even happy hours. These moments of connection can keep everyone in the loop, connected, and help their mental health in a safe and non-invasive way.

#3 Painful Truth

Layoffs and furloughs could become or have already become a reality for your company. When you're handling this be as direct, humane, and kind as possible. Being incredibly transparent and honest with your employees is a must. If you can, offer assistance, but don't promise more than what you can deliver. Acknowledge the fact that you know that this will be difficult for your employees, and emphasize that this is not their fault. This situation wouldn't even be happening if it wasn't for the pandemic. In times of so much unknown and change, your employees are going to look to you for answers, for comfort, and guidance. Even if you are struggling for an answer, don't placate them. Remember your employees are still people, not numbers or statistics to be dealt with.

#4 Be On The Same Page

Working from home has, we're sure, opened your eyes to all the different ways your employees like to work and communicate. This can be great, but it can also be stressful to work with multiple people who handle their at home work days differently. Make sure your employees are set up to work from home and that they have the proper equipment that will help them succeed. It is also a great idea to set up an established and organized work plan and workflow. This doesn't mean that everyone has to work the same way. This does mean that meeting deadlines, communication, and scheduling should be streamlined. Consider hosting a company wide education course that keys everyone into the best ways to work and collaborate online.

Being a business owner in 2020 has been an incredible challenge. There have been and will continue to be so many hurdles to overcome. Through all of this, make sure you remember your employees. Care for them like they have cared for and supported your business. If you can support them and be honest, they are more likely to hang on and support you through whatever else might be coming in 2020.

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When Working From Home Isn't An Option

6/16/2020

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Your job may not be one you can do from home. What happens when your bank account is dwindling and unemployment is running out? Are there other options available to you?

The state is opening back up, but that doesn't mean everything is following suit. It doesn't mean that everyone is going back to work, and unemployment isn't going to last forever. What happens if it's impossible to work from home? Many people are still without jobs for the foreseeable future and need some help right now. If your bank account is needing you to look for a job now, what can you do to gain temporary or new employment during the age of a pandemic?

Starting a job search for temporary employment or starting your career path all over again during the pandemic may be the last thing you want to do, or think you can do, right now. But, think again. Due to the growth in technology and the ease it gives to the world of business, working from home is easier than ever before. It's become much more accessible to find these jobs and to do them from the safety of your couch. Every day more and more jobs can be transferred online. As long as you have a computer, a phone, and a good internet connection, you're already set up and ready to go. Thankfully, the remote job market and its popularity were on the rise before the pandemic hit. Please note, if this is a path you're taking, you need to be diligent in going after and getting these jobs. You need to create and stick to a schedule, and you need to show up every morning and get the job done. This can be very difficult when you're working from the comfort of your home and in your PJs.

Working remotely and on your devices can seem daunting if it's not something you've done before. No need to fear a lack of skills, training, or education, there are jobs of all kinds for all levels of skills and abilities. If you still feel unsure, there are thousands of YouTube videos available, free of charge, and other free resources that can help you along the way. With the world changing so rapidly and the need for a job becoming apparent, we wanted to share some great jobs, opportunities, and tips for working at home. We want to help keep you safe and keep your finances under control.

TEACHING
Even if you don't have a specific degree in teaching, there are opportunities out there for you. Many online programs will accept a bachelor's degree in any subject. Teaching English online to students overseas or who have English as a second language is a great example. There are online and virtual tutoring opportunities as well. You might not be teaching these students directly, but you're helping them develop their skills. There are opportunities for you to create videos on a huge amount of topics for educational purposes. This can help you flex your knowledge and your creative skills in subjects you're already passionate about. If you do have a background in education and administration, you could also find remote jobs to help develop curriculum and help plan and manage the current and upcoming school year. You can teach at all levels from kindergarten to college. It's a fun, unique, and creative opportunity that can be full or part-time.

Companies hiring now: VIPkid, Qkids, Magic Ears, Trilogy Education Services.

WRITING
This field is huge. If you are a creative individual or you are very precise, have strong research skills, and can write an excellent business report, then these jobs are for you. Again, your skill sets and background can vary to get into this filed depending on your specialties. Blog and content writing for social media and websites have boomed during the pandemic and in recent years. You can be a copywriter or editor. You can edit and proofread papers and projects by students and professionals. Sometimes an extra eye is all someone needs. You can work with authors who need help with the stories they're writing. You can even begin blogging, writing articles, or writing books yourself. There are jobs to transcribe radio, video, and voice interviews too. Writing jobs and positions range from being full-time positions to working project to project. In most situations, you can create your schedule. Doing these jobs can be a little tricky, be warned. Make sure they are legitimate positions. If they sound too good to be true, they usually are. Make sure you do your research and you and a real interview and contact person when doing these jobs.

Companies hiring now: Fandom Writer, Valenet, Randstad, and Digital Health Content Producer.

TECH WORLD
We chose this category because of the massive amounts of opportunities that have arisen in the tech world and jobs driven by the tech world. Data entry is a great entry-level job in this world. If you're very organized and have a wide knowledge of basic software and email, a virtual assistant can also be an excellent opportunity. You can help someone order their groceries, answering emails and phone calls, run their website, and social media pages all from the comfort of your home. For those who are more tech-savvy, companies like ZOOM, Microsoft, and more have positions available to you. Companies are looking for customer and tech/IT support that can also be done from the comfort of your home. The range of opportunities is huge, you just have to go looking!

Companies hiring now: Language Line Solutions and Kelly Services.

Stepping into the remote world can be hard if it's your first time. Hunting for a particular job like this can take time. But, be diligent. Trust in your skills and what you can offer. There is something out there for you. Look for free resources online that can help you learn more. Trust in the technology, and it will do the rest. Don't forget, friends! If you're looking for the best tax accountant in Summerville, the best tax services in Summerville, the best Quickbooks services in Summerville, and the best payroll services in Summerville, we are still here for you. Tax season may be over for some and just starting for others, and we will be here for you no matter what!

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