Future imperfect

The future is still far from clear - and, if the predictions are anything to go by, will be far from rosy perfection! Companies, charities, shops and the hospitality industry have all suffered loss of income and, in many cases, severe financial hardship.

Some businesses have managed to pivot and rejig what they offer to stay in business, so pubs and restaurants have entered the takeaway marketplace, promotional gift companies now sell PPE and there is even a gin-maker that now makes hand sanitiser!

Now there are some glimmers of light on the horizon as slowly people are being able to return to work. As a business owner there are three health hazards to consider.

1: COVID-19

And you're probably all too aware of the steps you need to take to protect your staff, your customers and your suppliers as your business gets back into action. 

2: Mental health

Mental health and wellbeing are hot topics for anyone who manages people. Stress is one of the biggest reasons for sick-days and people who are stressed are less effective, even when they are at work.

The pandemic has generated a whole new collection of mental health issues to tackle.

Those staff who have been separated from their workmates may be desperate to get back to the workplace, just to see people. When choosing who comes back to work first in a phased programme, they're the ones who'll have their hands up waving in the air!

However, there may be others who have got used to working from home and may be less keen to get back to the workplace. They may feel afraid and vulnerable and will need sympathetic handling. These are the people who will need plenty of reassurance and, maybe, given more time to get used to the idea.

Humans are all different and, to get the best results, different approaches will need to be put in place to ensure you aren't adding more stress for your people.

3: Organisational health

This is all about taking a strategic approach to getting your business back in profit. Far from just dishing out PPE to your staff, you need to think about how things will be, both short and long-term.

  • How will people be brought back to work?
  • How many people may still be able to - and want to - work from home?
  • Is working from home going to be part of your future strategy?
  • How will you ensure home-workers aren't isolated?
  • What facilities might you need to provide if working from home becomes a long-term option?
  • What will happen if there's another lockdown - local or national?
  • How will you manage your cash flow if that happens?
  • What have you learned from lockdown that will change how your organisation operates going forward?
  • What do you need to get back to doing that hasn't been possible during lockdown?
  • What will you do differently to protect your organisation from future potential disasters?

Every company will have different answers to these questions - and this is far from a comprehensive list. Take some time - or brainstorm with your team - what are the critical factors your business needs to think about? 

If you need guidance on financial strategies, you know we're just a phone call away.