Submitted by Admin
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced almost everyone to adjust the way that they live, work and play. Even if you are considered to be fully vaccinated, there are still a number of sacrifices that you’re still making to protect yourself and others. For example, you may be working from home or working on a part-time basis to ensure that you are available to take care of your kids who are home from school. Let’s take a look at some of the lessons that the pandemic has taught workers and companies alike over the past 18 months.
Companies Have Learned That Workers Don’t Need To Be at the Office To Be Productive
Perhaps the most profound lesson that the pandemic has taught companies is that workers can be productive while working away from the office. The rise of streaming video apps have made it possible for employees to have meetings wherever they happen to be. Call forwarding tools also make it possible for clients to get in touch with you or your workers even when you’re out of the office.
Finally, the ability to obtain a virtual address for business purposes means that companies can have a big city presence even if they operate in a small town. Overall, technology has provided a safe and convenient way for people to keep in touch during an unprecedented time.
Employees Have Learned That Working From Home Isn’t Always Ideal
Prior to the pandemic, it wasn’t uncommon for those who worked in an office to be somewhat jealous of those who were able to work wherever they wanted. However, those who traditionally work outside the home learned firsthand how difficult it can be to do so. For example, it can be frustrating to hear the dog barking, a child crying or a vacuum running while you’re on a call with a client.
It can also be frustrating when your kids or spouse ask you to make lunch, answer the house phone or take care of other tasks because they don’t think you’re actually working. Furthermore, since you’re eating, sleeping and working in the same space, it can be hard to obtain any type of work/life balance. This can make it difficult to get into a routine that allows you to maximize your productivity.
The Pandemic Has Had a Significant Impact on Women
Although workers of both genders have had their lives upended because of recent events, women have been hit especially hard. Research has indicated that women have largely been called upon to care for their children or run the household so that their spouses or partners can remain employed. This has resulted in greater calls for paid family leave and other changes that would make it easier for both parents to remain at work regardless of their family situations.
Government Intervention Can Have a Strong Influence on the Economy
Lockdowns mandated by most local and state governments throughout 2020 had a negative impact on the travel and hospitality sectors. Although lockdown orders were mostly allowed to expire throughout June, July and August 2020, there were still a number of limitations on how businesses could operate. These limitations made it hard for companies to justify staying open throughout the week or offering all of their products or services to customers.
In addition, a sluggish job market eventually forced companies to start paying higher wages to attract those who were still on the sidelines. Although some blame the extra unemployment benefits offered by state and federal authorities, this didn’t fully explain why workers were hesitant to return to work. Instead, many concluded that it wasn’t worth sacrificing their health to work for minimum wage or for employers that weren’t taking steps to minimize the spread of the coronavirus.
You Can’t Take Anything for Granted
Perhaps the biggest lesson that the pandemic has taught us is that you don’t know what is going to happen until it happens. Therefore, it’s critical to have contingency plans in case your workers are stuck at home or public services aren’t available. Although there were runs on toilet paper, cleaning supplies and other products, there was typically enough food and other essential supplies to serve everyone’s needs.
The fact that there weren’t significant shortages of essential goods is even more impressive when you consider we live in a global economy. Despite a reduction in travel throughout the world since March 2020, goods are still flowing relatively freely between nations.
The pandemic is likely to have a significant impact on both employers and employees for many years to come. For instance, there is a good chance that you’ll work remotely or be allowed to remain on a hybrid work schedule for the foreseeable future. It’s also possible that an increase in wages caused by a lack of available workers might make it easier for you to retire or otherwise secure your financial future.