Guidance for business leaders as Coronavirus spreads

Community Business’ CEO Fern Ngai has expressed deep concern about the global rise in xenophobic attitudes towards people of Asian descent in the wake of the Coronavirus. Since the virus was declared a global public health emergency by the World Health Organization on 31st January, more than 16 cities in China have been placed on lockdown (affecting 45 million people) in an attempt to halt the spread of the virus.  Meanwhile, the non-profit has issued guidance to company leaders worldwide on how to remain inclusive, and prioritise employee physical and emotional wellbeing as the Coronavirus outbreak continues to spread.

“As governments and medical authorities work to stay one step ahead, we at Community Business turn our attention to you, your employees and your wellbeing at this trying time,” states Community Business CEO Fern Ngai. “A balance must be struck between protecting the health and safety of your family and employees, and ensuring that workplaces remain inclusive.”

INCLUSIVE & EMPATHETIC LEADERSHIP

“During times of crisis, racial stereotyping and distrust of others can become default behaviour. At times like these, the need for inclusive and empathetic leadership is stronger than ever,” adds Ngai. “We must all work hard to ensure that our workplaces and communities remain rational and welcoming as well as positive, healthy and virus-free. With this in mind, we have compiled some key measures you and your organisations might want to consider implementing to ensure the safety and wellbeing of your employees.”

Community Business suggests that companies and managers take the following measures to prioritise the wellbeing of their staff: 

• Show care and understanding to all employees. Take their health concerns and decision to self-quarantine seriously, if they do not feel safe travelling.
  
  
• Encourage teams to take advantage of the digital tools at their disposal and work virtually to minimise face-to-face interaction. Make allowances for a loss of motivation when teams are siloed for an extended period of time and plan for short, regular catch-up meetings to keep teams engaged. 

• Remind team members to reach out and communicate with each other to minimise the social detriment of working in isolation.  

• Encourage employees to monitor their health closely. Given the high rate of infection in mainland China, companies might consider imposing a 14-day quarantine or work-from-home policy for any employee who has travelled from China. This should also be extended to employees living with a family member that has recently returned from the country.

• Develop protocols for when employees fall sick, or if employees have been in close contact with someone who has contracted the Coronavirus. 

• Emotional, as well as physical, wellbeing of employees should be taken into consideration at this time. Line managers and other colleagues should be alert to this and ensure they are being supportive and caring.  If your organisation provides an employee assistance programme (EAP), then provide the relevant hotline numbers.

Click here for the complete guidelines and advice.