Handling Unemployment as A Business

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.