We salute the efforts of health professionals, individuals, organizations, government agencies, international organizations, and many others who are working round the clock to halt the further spread of COVID-19, ameliorate the suffering of people through palliatives, as well as provision of timely and relevant information. Of a truth, history will be kind to you. A lot of silent labours are on to make life easier at this trying period. To these ones, your labours will not go unrewarded.
In some parts of the world, the number of infections have dropped considerably, while in other parts, the number of those admitted into isolation centres and those discharged are almost at par. This is the more reason why we need to adhere strictly to the guidelines provided by health authorities and government agencies. It is not in the interest of the government that economic activities have been grounded, yet we must remember that we need to be alive first before we can do business, celebrate or engage in any form of worship. Kindly read through the previous parts to keep abreast of issues already examined.
Today, the focus is the impact of COVID-19 on organizations. This impact may not be fully felt until this pandemic is over. You know that even before the virus struck, the economy of many countries was not doing well. On what organizations can do during this lockdown, that depends on the nature of such organizations. A lot of them told their staff, "Work from home". In the real sense, how many organizations embedded remote working in their pattern of work? Has remote working been done before? Were tools and training to work remotely provided for staff? Were there parameters to evaluate working remotely or 'working from home' as the case may be? Obviously this is a disruption to the traditional work pattern of 8 to 5. More than ever before the situation before us is a clarion call to this: that digitalization is the way to go. For those who had integrated digitalization into their services, it is time to just switch mode. Yes! Just switch mode. To those who have not, they stand the risk of running into losses both in the short and long run. While you may not be able to fully digitize all the activities in the value chain of your business, yet you can provide platforms for digital to take over when analogue has been deployed to an extent. Nonetheless, digitalization is not cheap, neither can it be hurried into, yet it is worth it. Do your research, converse with the right people, get onboard, and switch mode.
It is obvious that in the light of the present realities, organizations would adopt certain measures in the post COVID-19 era. Notable among these includes downsizing the workforce, reduction in salaries, wages, and other expenditures, shrinking the size of the budgets, borrowing to keep business running, as well as automation of activities. At the heart of all these are humans, who will be affected, and be made to bear the burden. Nonetheless, in all that will be done, we appeal that all policies and decisions should have human face, else the trauma will be more than that of COVID-19 itself. However, as individuals, we need to brace up for the unexpected, and be optimistic that life can be better, since it is in phases.
You are urged to stay connected. Your comments will always be appreciated. Don't hold them back.
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