It’s going to be a short post today to highlight the danger that may lead to an unexpected wave of business closures. Unlike the damage caused by the virus, this may be caused by our poor judgement.

Have you figured it out yet?

Weeks into the battle with the virus, we have seen an enormous effort around the world aiming at:

A) fighting, containing and eventually eradicating the Covid-19

B) bringing normality back

The normality or new normality as some say will bring another challenge that is going to change life as we know it.

People have had to adapt to lockdown, lack of socialisation, limitations put on their basic needs, unprecedented need to used technology, lack of travel and leisure etc.

Business owners have taken steps to protect their companies from going under. Often at the cost of losing great employees.

I am the new normal – do you like me?

New measures have been mandated to protect society from another exposure. Tomorrow you will come to the office full of Perspex screens, face masks, sanitisers, taped tables and chairs, new restrictions on social interaction and distancing. Reception area may resemble the airport security with temperature scanners and testing stations. You won’t be able to tap your colleague on the shoulder for the work well done or shake hands with visitors. How do you feel about it?

Are you prepared to collaborate in such an environment?

All this begs the question – has anything been done to prepare people mentally to the new situation? It’s easy to put a screen between two desks or remove every other chair from the canteen. How about the psychological aspects of “life after the virus” at the workplace?

Without taking immediate actions to address this issue, we will see a significant impact on people’s morale, confidence, self-awareness, social security and job satisfaction. Further down the line businesses will suffer from poor productivity and efficiency, reduced customer satisfaction, personnel issues, higher off sick rate etc.

It’s an absolute necessity to start planning the transition period and support methods for people coming back to work.

If you are an employer, how are you planning to help your team with adaptation to the new work environment? If you are an employee, what are your expectations toward the management?

I would welcome your thoughts on this.