Easing Employee Stress Surrounding the COVID-19 Pandemic

As the COVID-19 emergency continues, employers, employees and their families are experiencing immense uncertainty. Employees are looking for guidance. OMA Connections Partner OneSource Advisors says employers can help calm employees’ fears by taking these actions:

• Acknowledge employee fears surrounding their jobs and the company, but also reassure them of their value to the company and the company’s desire to keep them as members of the team.
• Be open with employees about management decisions and ask for suggestions to rectify problems.
• Provide as much information as possible about the pandemic.
• Highlight employee benefits that employees might not know about to relieve any financial stress.
• Encourage employees to take advantage of any telemental health services to preserve their mental well-being.
• Communicate the future of the business with employees often — in meetings, on the company intranet site, in newsletters and in blogs.
• Be empathetic in your communications, as every employee’s situation is different.

In uncertain times, it’s imperative to clearly communicate your business’s plans as frequently as possible. 4/1/2020