In fact, we all need to become public health experts. New forms of workplaces are emerging, companies are developing new safety protocols, mental resilience programmes, hybrid work models and management strategies aimed at better adaptation of employees.
"Public health is the science and art of disease prevention, life extension and health promotion through organized efforts and informed decisions by society, organizations, the public and private communities and individuals."
- Charles Winslow, bacteriologist and founder of the Yale School of Public Health
Our companies and customers are "communities", so public health practices apply here as well. Every day we are working to make our organisations healthy, productive and safe. People have been struggling with viruses for hundreds of years. We all need to realise this pandemic is not a one-off event: we will be living with the challenge of infectious diseases for many years to come.
Nicholas Christakis, author of Apollo's Arrow, points out that the 1918 flu virus had a second wave that was four times more deadly than the first. Life did not return to "normal" for almost four years, and back then there were also lasting changes.
The impact of the pandemic is far-reaching. Trust, culture, prosperity and the economy are affected, so we need to take a systematic approach. Do not just focus on creating safe workplaces, but think about building organisations that can respond to crises, adapt as needed and protect all employees.
Imagine an outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic at your company that begins to spread among employees. Addressing the public health situation would lead you and your teams not only to a strategy on how to respond, but also find factors that can cause the problem. Are employees sitting too close together? Do they have face coverings? Do they ignore protocols due to pandemic fatigue? Do they have enough information to make the right decisions?
At the same time, public health leaders talk about the importance of humility in seeking action against a new type of viral infection. It is necessary to study new data, learn from mistakes and constantly innovate where needed. The same approach in required in business.
If you read about pandemics from the past, you will know they don't just disappear: they transform lifestyles, expectations, choices and concerns. Although we will probably see a more significant recovery next year, we will continue to feel the effects of this pandemic for several years to come. Therefore, your workplace and public health strategies should be set to last. A vaccine will not miraculously eradicate the problems we have been facing for the last few months.
We must also tirelessly help employees understand that public health is not about protecting the individual; it is about protecting others. This means creating workplace health policies that guide collective thinking, as well as trying to support teamwork, knowledge sharing and collaboration. It is necessary to help employees understand their role in protecting everyone around them. This whole spirit of giving must be at the heart of your workplace health strategy.
The Deloitte Millennial Survey 2020, a survey of more than 18,000 professionals under the age of 45 (74% of the global workforce), found that a sense of belonging in society is growing: 78% of respondents said the pandemic had taught them to empathise more and help their community.
Use this sentiment to create your own safe workplace strategies. We are all in this together. Only by protecting our fellow employees and customers can we protect ourselves.
The article is based on a commentary by Josh Bersin, a world-renowned HR expert, published on the Human Capital League portal.
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