The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been an unexpected and unprecedented event, and it has caused increased stress and anxiety for employees everywhere. Our lives, so to speak, have been disrupted, and support resources to help employees cope with returning to work should be a priority. Just when we thought the pandemic was on the decline, statistics show the numbers are increasing, which increases the fear once again. This article addresses the employee and how to cope in general and in the workplace, as well as employer responsibilities and accountability.
The author starts by acknowledging the fear that has infiltrated our lives and urges us all to manage what we can. This means we should all take precautions regarding Covid like we do for everything else. Knowing that we have control over our own actions can lower some of the stress we feel about the uncertainty in our world.
He also summarizes the key points from the landmark book, Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway. The main take-away is that we all experience fear. Fear from a pandemic. Fear of car accidents or cancer – even actors and singers face fear when they perform! But they do it anyway. They move past the fear by controlling what they can and facing it head-on.
What does that mean, you ask? The author reminds us to do what we know: Hygiene (wash or hands frequently), Screenings (if we have symptoms), Social distancing (wherever we are, even in the workplace), and Masks. As he says, if these work in hospitals where the potential for Covid is worse, these can work at home and at work.