Report: key challenges for managing staff during COVID

All of us would have encountered numerous challenges when COVID-19 took over and a world-wide pandemic was declared. In our most recent report on how COVID has changed workplaces, we found 3 key challenges.

#1 Job loss

A report by ABC stated that almost 1 million Australians have lost their jobs due to COVID. The effect of job loss and reduction of work hours cannot be understated and the effect on those individuals and families has been devastating.

For employees of the Australian Public Service, which was the focus for our research report, many were fortunate in being able to retain their jobs even if some experienced a large change to their role, for example those that have been redeployed to Service Australia.

# 2 IT issues

The biggest issue by far in managing the working from home arrangements was IT and connectivity challenges. Particularly given the secure nature of most government work, accessing protected work systems from home was slow and frustrating for many. Virtual meetings and uploading/downloading large files was also difficult and depended on the individual’s home internet connection.

While many have now adjusted to working from home, the connectivity and cybersecurity issues continue to be a challenge.

#3 Mental health

Mental health is an important topic for workplaces and even more so following a stressful summer of bushfires, smoke, and hailstorms. With COVID-19 on top of this as well, it has been a difficult time for many of us. People have had to deal with the changes of suddenly working from home, home-schooling children, as well as the shut-down of shops, restaurants, and gyms, and general restrictions to regular activities.

While many organisations have offered wellness days, additional flexibility and deliberate outreach and social connection, the full effects of 2020 on mental health will remain to be seen over the coming months and years.

To find out more about the key challenges outlined by leaders and executives, download the whole report here.

If you want to talk about how to keep employees engaged and well during the changing times and how to transition to the ‘next normal’, get in touch with one of our experts at hello@pentaquest.io.