Provide Resources to Improve Employees’ Well-Being
Preparing for and Responding to Civil Unrestġ. Below are some ways that employers should respond to and prepare for civil unrest. Employers have a responsibility to ensure that employees have a safe workplace, which includes mental safety as well as physical. When civil unrest emerges in the community, employers need to be prepared for the possibility that the disruptions and distractions may follow employees into the workplace. The emotional stress can spill over into all aspects of an employee’s workload, affecting their productivity, collaboration, relationship with other employees, and their own mental health. It is almost unreasonable to expect employees to keep their personal concerns at home, especially since many are working from the home, making it more difficult than ever to maintain compartmentalization between work and personal life. Many workplaces have already been interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, from having to halt non-essential operations and close their doors to dealing with essential employees concerned about coming to work. The Impact of Civil Unrest in the Workplace Vandalization, staff shortages, and disrupted operations can put financial strain on organizations – especially small businesses – but those aren’t the only ways in which businesses are impacted. Many businesses in Minneapolis, Atlanta, New York City, Los Angeles, and other major cities, have already seen the physical damage caused by civil unrest. Authorities are issuing early curfews each night to attempt to minimize destruction and vandalization and protect residents and businesses in the area, but riots and looting can still occur despite government interference – and sometimes in spite of. Right now, communities across the entire nation are experiencing this occurrence in real time. Even businesses that are considered “out of the way” of gatherings are affected by detoured traffic patterns and closed roads and highways that can prevent employees from getting to or from work. Businesses that carry a lot of inventory are at risk of theft and looting. Businesses in areas where protesters may gather are often forced to close their doors early or cease operations for a longer period of time. When civil unrest leads to damage and destruction, employers within the community face many challenges.