Steps to Follow to Avoid Losing Productivity During the Coronavirus Crisis

Fear. This word looms as large as the global pandemic.

Be it the United States - the worst-hit or Anguilla - the least hit, fear is predominant in every meeting room and in every employee who is wondering about the next pay check. 

For businesses, this fear can wreak havoc. Offices are in lockdown and the loss in productivity is apparent. SMBs and new businesses can find themselves in hard waters due to vanishing demand. Most of all, the establishments where work from home isn’t practical are left helpless. 

This article aims to offer solutions to similar problems and how business owners can pull through the slowdown while preparing for its after-effects. 

The below chart from McKinsey & Company comprehensively summarises an action plan which businesses can use. 

1. Steps for Resolve 

Communicating Current Business Status To All Stakeholders

It is pretty evident that most if not all businesses will shift their operations. Deadlines will be rearranged and project status across the board will change. 

This can cause panic. Therefore, the first step is to inform everyone about their current status of the business. Below are some general points that this step includes. 

• Inform the clients about the shift in project timelines with clear expectations on near-future goals. 
• Inform the employees about new work schedules or arrangements. 
• Check status with operational creditors such as water, electricity and supplies, on changes made in their curriculum. 
• Check with banks and finance providers for compensations or relaxations in regards to loans. 

Building Morale 

Healthcare myths and unverified information can also cause panic. Hence, it’s important to keep the team’s morale high at your business by using the following practices.

• Allowing space for employees to vent any negative emotions that they might face. 
• Create interactive routines that can engage employees as they continue to work. A group video call can do the job. 
• Encourage home-based exercises for 15-30 mins daily. 
• Ensure employees don’t get overworked during the lockdown. 

2. Steps for Resilience 

Meet Work from Home Challenges

Not all employees have the resources they need to efficiently work from home. Some might just not be ready for the shift. Hence, helping employees to adapt to the new working style can be a significant boost to productivity. 

One of the employees at Dikonia didn’t have a up-to-the-mark computer at her home. The administration was quick to notice that and helped him get a fully functioning system, despite lockdown. 

Similar assistance was also provided to all employees in terms of grants for computer accessories, internet and software applications for a streamlined work environment. 

Prepayment Packages for dealing with Crash Crunch

Many businesses such as construction, manufacturing, brick and mortar stores, etc can’t offer work from home alternatives. This means the businesses might have to face a complete shutdown during the public emergency. 

Such businesses can get in touch with their committed clients and pitch special pre-payment packages. For example, a restaurant can offer 3 months of meals in a package worth $200 to its regular visitors that they can redeem once the lockdown is over. 

Even if 5-10% customers agree, the restaurant can at least keep the payroll afloat and help the employees avoid a full salary cut.

The same model can be applied to all kinds of businesses for dealing with the crisis. 

3. Steps for Return 

Prepare for changes in advance 

The economic impact will be felt around the world. To say it in fewer words, a global recession could just be around the corner. 

How can your organization prepare for it? It’s a very open-ended question as each industry will be impacted in a different way. Therefore, thoughts need to be put in while there is still time.

Some businesses can expect an explosion of demand when things return to normal while others can expect a further dry-up. Should you hire more professionals according to that o your employees need to re-skill? 

The lockdown is the best time to take these policy decisions. 

4. Steps for Reimagination

Necessity is the mother of invention. 

How can you deal with complete blackouts like the Covid19 in the future? What new permanent changes can be incorporated? Here are a few positions.

Permanent Work From Home Positions 

In the wake of the outbreak, all employees were shifted to work from home arrangement at Dikonia. The system boded well with the team as the employees were quick to adapt to this abrupt change. 

The administration has now decided to include Permanent Work From Home positions for 

• Web Development
• Graphic Design
• Digital Marketing
• Customer Acquisition

Building the remote team culture will strengthen the company’s ability to stay afloat in case another such lockdown hits the country. 

Revisions to Paid Leave Policy

The company is also brainstorming on the paid leave policy and has been planning to include “paid leaves for public emergencies” that can be used in corresponding scenarios.

Currently, The Factories Act has provided annual earned leave of 12 working days for all the workers who have worked at least 240 days in a year, which is quite low given lockdowns. 

Therefore, an allowance for more number of paid leaves needs to be in place so that the employees can tackle financial challenges while they are rendered helpless. 

5. Steps for Reform

Mark Cuban, a prominent investor and serial entrepreneur has called the pandemic as an opportunity for a “major reset.”

It has given us time to reflect upon the faults in the current system of work and innovate in ways that can help it improve. 

A necessary reform that we have observed can come in the form of remote working. While there are several remote working tools available in the market, new tools can be devised that deal with challenges like slow internet, working offline, collaboration tools for the entire organization and the like. 

I’ll touch upon these aspects in the next article, stay tuned! 

Conclusion

Each calamity presents us with an opportunity to get better at tackling it and the implications trickle down to all aspects of the business. Same is the case with Covid19. While going is tough for businesses around the world, the scope of improvement, innovation and resilience is equally high.