COVID 19 - The Emerging "Stress Factor"

In talking to many of you this week, the number one emerging issue is stress.   The rapid rate of change being imposed on us, our employees, suppliers and customers is unprecedented.  The uncertainty regarding our health, both physical and financial, stemming from a dangerous virus racing around the globe is overwhelming many people.

The result is often emotional – anxiety, fear, and depression.  This in turn impacts morale and mental health, both yours and everyone you work with – the ones working on-site, the ones working remotely and the ones now on EI waiting to come back.

They need your leadership.  This is not the zombie apocalypse because we can do a lot to get this under control.  Four things to consider:

1. Calgary and Edmonton are very different from New York or Milan who have 7.5-10,000 people per km2.  We have only 1,300 (natural advantage in physical distancing).

2. Calgary and other Albertans are generally following physical distancing and self-isolation, except for a few ass-hole snow birds who now face fines of up to $750,000 and 6 months in jail if they don’t go straight home and self-isolate (today’s news).

3. Alberta has been aggressively testing our people at four times the rate of Quebec.  We got ahead of this thing early.

4. Toilet paper is on it’s way.  They are making more.

Human beings are hard-wired to be social. Remember to reach out to a friend, colleague, employee, customer or supplier to see how they are doing (phone, text, facetime, video meetings, email even).   There is no reason physical distancing needs to become human isolation. 

Here are three resources to help you deal with stressed out employees, colleagues, suppliers and customers.  More in the coming days:

• Video - When the going gets tough

• Calgary Chamber of Commerce Webinar:

Employee Morale: Mental Health & Resiliency for your employees
Friday, March, 28, 2020 11:00 MST
Nicolas Beique, Helcim and Usman Tahir Jutt, Chirp Foods Inc. — O/A McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada Limited, will discuss how to build resilient employees and support mental health through a crisis.

• CTV:  5 Tips from Mental Health Experts

"When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Pete Baran                           |       403-973-3531

Chief Business Mechanic  |       Blueneck Consulting Inc.

www.blueneck.ca