How are you feeling right now? Take a moment to step back from what you are doing and try to identify what is causing you to feel that way. Feeling a little extra stressed? Overwhelmed? Us too.
Although COVID-19 has proven its power, there is an additional player creeping up and causing a large amount of anticipatory fear. Since the world is constantly changing, no one has the ability to predict whether or not these fears can be recognized. However, it is important to acknowledge, address, and plan for the possibility of the worst case scenario.
At any moment, people can break out into civil unrest, which can be both psychologically and physically taxing for individuals, businesses, and entire communities. In 2014, a group of world leaders met in Switzerland at the World Economic forum in order to discuss the threat of civil unrest to business owners. Although much has changed in the past six years since this meeting was held, the necessity to prepare for possible civil unrest is still pertinent.
As you and your business prepare for any possible civil disturbances, it is necessary to keep in the following in mind:
● Nature of unrest
● Employee collaboration and respect during times of crisis
● Safety measures and precautions
Not only do external threats exist, but internal threats as well. Over the past six months, we have been feeling an increasing amount of stress from watching our entire lives change and being forced to quickly adapt to our new living situations. Paired with this increased stress is an increase of free time, resulting in an increase of time spent online. Individuals are gaining a higher exposure to both informative and social media outlets, and with an election coming up at the end of the month, the vast majority of information being digested is political. There is a possibility that your employees may bring outside issues into the workplace, issuing an emotionally hostile and uncomfortable atmosphere. This can lead to additional known workplace stressors that include:
● Bullying
● Harassment
● Disunity among colleagues
Looking one step further, Government Executive lists “change, worrying about events that have not happened yet, and lack of control” in their top eight most common workplace stressors. The additive effect of these stressors can in turn cause employees to be less at ease, creating a cyclical effect of stress and agitation.
Although we cannot know for sure what the next few months will hold, the best practice is always to stay one step ahead and to have a well-established plan. You, as a business executive, already have far more on your plate than you had anticipated a year ago when creating a proposal for the fiscal year 2020, so let Evans Brothers Consulting take some of the worry off your hands.
With Evans Brothers Consulting’s expertise, we can help your business assess, prepare for, and manage any possible risks that may occur. With a corporate risk assessment, we can ensure that your business is at the highest level of internal and external security. Give us a call, and we can discuss strategies and techniques for violence safety, and how to keep your work environment safe for your employees.