COVID-19 &
THE WORKPLACE
SPECIAL TOPICS IN HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
EMPLOYERS &
WORKERS
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COVID-19 spread03
is emotionally challenging for many
people, changing day-to-day life in unprecedented ways. All
sections of society – including employers and employees –
should play a role 04
to protect themselves and each other and
help prevent further spread of the disease. WHO is providing
advice and updated information on COVID-19, and on how
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employers can protect their employees, what measures they
should take in the workplace and other related factors.
PREVENTING &
MITIGATING COVID-19
AT WORK
WORKPLACES OUTSIDE OF HEALTHCARE FACILITIES CAN BE ALSO SETTINGS FOR
TRANSMISSION OF COVID-19. OUTBREAKS OF COVID-19 HAS BEEN REPORTED IN VARIOUS
TYPES OF WORKPLACES AND JOB CATEGORIES.
ALL WORKERS SHOULD BE PROTECTED FROM ACQUIRING COVID-19 BECAUSE OF THEIR
WORK. THE PREVENTION OF COVID-19 IN WORK SETTINGS SHOULD BE COMBINED WITH
MEASURES FOR PROTECTING PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELLBEING
OF WORKERS FROM OTHER OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS IN THE OPERATION, CLOSURES AND
REOPENING OF WORKPLACES.
GETTING YOUR WORKPLACE
READY FOR COVID-19
IN JANUARY 2020 THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) DECLARED
THE OUTBREAK OF A NEW CORONAVIRUS DISEASE IN HUBEI PROVINCE,
CHINA TO BE A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY OF INTERNATIONAL CONCERN.
WHO STATED THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF THE 2019 CORONAVIRUS DISEASE
(COVID-19) SPREADING TO OTHER COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD.
WHO AND PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITIES AROUND THE WORLD ARE TAKING
ACTION TO CONTAIN THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK. HOWEVER, LONG TERM
SUCCESS CANNOT BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED. ALL SECTIONS OF OUR SOCIETY –
INCLUDING BUSINESSES AND EMPLOYERS – MUST PLAY A ROLE IF WE ARE TO
STOP THE SPREAD OF THIS DISEASE.
GETTING YOUR WORKPLACE
READY FOR COVID-19
1. SIMPLE WAYS TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 IN YOUR
WORKPLACE
2. HOW TO MANAGE COVID-19 RISKS WHEN ORGANIZING
MEETINGS & EVENTS
3. GETTING YOUR WORKPLACE READY IN CASE COVID-19
ARRIVES IN YOUR COMMUNITY
GETTING YOUR WORKPLACE
READY FOR COVID-19
1. SIMPLE WAYS TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 IN YOUR WORKPLACE
• MAKE SURE YOUR WORKPLACES ARE CLEAN AND HYGIENIC
• PROMOTE REGULAR AND THOROUGH HAND-WASHING BY EMPLOYEES,
CONTRACTORS AND CUSTOMERS
• PROMOTE REGULAR AND THOROUGH HAND-WASHING BY EMPLOYEES,
CONTRACTORS AND CUSTOMERS
GETTING YOUR WORKPLACE
READY FOR COVID-19
2. HOW TO MANAGE COVID-19 RISKS WHEN ORGANIZING MEETINGS & EVENTS
ORGANIZERS OF MEETINGS AND EVENTS NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE
POTENTIAL RISK FROM COVID-19 BECAUSE:
• THERE IS A RISK THAT PEOPLE ATTENDING YOUR MEETING OR EVENT MIGHT
BE UNWITTINGLY BRINGING THE COVID-19 VIRUS TO THE MEETING. OTHERS
MIGHT BE UNKNOWINGLY EXPOSED TO COVID-19.
• WHILE COVID-19 IS A MILD DISEASE FOR MOST PEOPLE, IT CAN MAKE
SOME VERY ILL. AROUND 1 IN EVERY 5 PEOPLE WHO CATCH COVID-19
NEEDS HOSPITAL TREATMENT.
GETTING YOUR WORKPLACE
READY FOR COVID-19
2. HOW TO MANAGE COVID-19 RISKS WHEN ORGANIZING MEETINGS & EVENTS
BEFORE THE MEETING OR EVENT
• CHECK THE ADVICE FROM THE AUTHORITIES IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE YOU PLAN TO HOLD THE
MEETING OR EVENT. FOLLOW THEIR ADVICE.
• DEVELOP AND AGREE A PREPAREDNESS PLAN TO PREVENT INFECTION AT YOUR MEETING OR EVENT.
CONSIDER WHETHER A FACE-TO-FACE MEETING OR EVENT IS NEEDED. COULD IT BE REPLACED BY
A TELECONFERENCE OR ONLINE EVENT?
COULD THE MEETING OR EVENT BE SCALED DOWN SO THAT FEWER PEOPLE ATTEND?
ENSURE AND VERIFY INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION CHANNELS IN ADVANCE WITH KEY
PARTNERS SUCH AS PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE AUTHORITIES.
GETTING YOUR WORKPLACE
READY FOR COVID-19
2. HOW TO MANAGE COVID-19 RISKS WHEN ORGANIZING MEETINGS & EVENTS
DURING THE MEETING OR EVENT
• PROVIDE INFORMATION OR A BRIEFING, PREFERABLY BOTH ORALLY AND IN WRITING, ON COVID-19 AND THE
MEASURES THAT ORGANIZERS ARE TAKING TO MAKE THIS EVENT SAFE FOR PARTICIPANTS.
BUILD TRUST. FOR EXAMPLE, AS AN ICEBREAKER, PRACTICE WAYS TO SAY HELLO WITHOUT TOUCHING.
O ENCOURAGE REGULAR HAND-WASHING OR USE OF AN ALCOHOL RUB BY ALL PARTICIPANTS AT THE MEETING
OR EVENT
ENCOURAGE PARTICIPANTS TO COVER THEIR FACE WITH THE BEND OF THEIR ELBOW OR A TISSUE IF THEY
COUGH OR SNEEZE. SUPPLY TISSUES AND CLOSED BINS TO DISPOSE OF THEM IN.
PROVIDE CONTACT DETAILS OR A HEALTH HOTLINE NUMBER THAT PARTICIPANTS CAN CALL FOR ADVICE OR
TO GIVE INFORMATION.
DISPLAY DISPENSERS OF ALCOHOL-BASED HAND RUB PROMINENTLY AROUND THE VENUE.
• IF THERE IS SPACE, ARRANGE SEATS SO THAT PARTICIPANTS ARE AT LEAST ONE METER APART.
GETTING YOUR WORKPLACE
READY FOR COVID-19
3. GETTING YOUR WORKPLACE READY IN CASE COVID-19
ARRIVES IN YOUR COMMUNITY
• DEVELOP A PLAN OF WHAT TO DO IF SOMEONE BECOMES ILL WITH SUSPECTED COVID-19 AT ONE OF YOUR
WORKPLACES
THE PLAN SHOULD COVER PUTTING THE ILL PERSON IN A ROOM OR AREA WHERE THEY ARE ISOLATED
FROM OTHERS IN THE WORKPLACE, LIMITING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE CONTACT WITH THE SICK
PERSON AND CONTACTING THE LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES.
CONSIDER HOW TO IDENTIFY PERSONS WHO MAY BE AT RISK, AND SUPPORT THEM, WITHOUT INVITING
STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION INTO YOUR WORKPLACE. THIS COULD INCLUDE PERSONS WHO HAVE
RECENTLY TRAVELLED TO AN AREA REPORTING CASES, OR OTHER PERSONNEL WHO HAVE CONDITIONS THAT
PUT THEM AT HIGHER RISK OF SERIOUS ILLNESS (E.G. DIABETES, HEART AND LUNG DISEASE, OLDER AGE).
TELL YOUR LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITY YOU ARE DEVELOPING THE PLAN AND SEEK THEIR INPUT.
GETTING YOUR WORKPLACE
READY FOR COVID-19
3. GETTING YOUR WORKPLACE READY IN CASE COVID-19
ARRIVES IN YOUR COMMUNITY
PROMOTE REGULAR TELEWORKING ACROSS YOUR ORGANIZATION. IF
THERE IS AN OUTBREAK OF COVID-19 IN YOUR COMMUNITY THE HEALTH
AUTHORITIES MAY ADVISE PEOPLE TO AVOID PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND
CROWDED PLACES. TELEWORKING WILL HELP YOUR BUSINESS KEEP
OPERATING WHILE YOUR EMPLOYEES STAY SAFE.
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THE CURRENT COVID-19 OUTBREAK HAS
PROVOKED
SOCIAL
STIGMA
AND
DISCRIMINATORY BEHAVIOURS
AGAINST
PEOPLE
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OF CERTAIN ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS AS WELL AS
ANYONE PERCEIVED TO HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT
WITH THE VIRUS.
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RISK COMMUNICATION AND
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
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RISK COMMUNICATION AND
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
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RISK COMMUNICATION AND
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
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RISK COMMUNICATION AND
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
RISK COMMUNICATION AND
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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
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MENTAL HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS
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DURING COVID-19 OUTBREAK
DO NOT REFER TO PEOPLE WITH THE DISEASE AS “COVID-19 CASES”, “VICTIMS” “COVID-19 FAMILIES” OR “THE
DISEASED”. THEY ARE “PEOPLE WHO HAVE COVID-19”, “PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING TREATED FOR COVID-19”, OR
“PEOPLE WHO ARE RECOVERING FROM COVID-19”, AND AFTER RECOVERING FROM COVID-19 THEIR LIFE WILL GO
ON WITH THEIR JOBS, FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES. IT IS IMPORTANT TO SEPARATE A PERSON FROM HAVING AN
IDENTITY DEFINED BY COVID-19, IN ORDER TO REDUCE STIGMA.
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MINIMIZE WATCHING, READING OR LISTENING TO NEWS ABOUT COVID-19 THAT CAUSES YOU TO FEEL ANXIOUS
OR DISTRESSED; SEEK INFORMATION ONLY FROM TRUSTED SOURCES AND MAINLY SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE PRACTICAL
STEPS TO PREPARE YOUR PLANS AND PROTECT YOURSELF AND LOVED ONES. SEEK INFORMATION UPDATES AT
SPECIFIC TIMES DURING THE DAY, ONCE OR TWICE. THE SUDDEN AND NEAR-CONSTANT STREAM OF NEWS REPORTS
ABOUT AN OUTBREAK CAN CAUSE ANYONE TO FEEL WORRIED. GET THE FACTS; NOT RUMOURS AND
MISINFORMATION. GATHER INFORMATION AT REGULAR INTERVALS FROM THE WHO WEBSITE AND LOCAL HEALTH
AUTHORITY PLATFORMS IN ORDER TO HELP YOU DISTINGUISH FACTS FROM RUMOURS. FACTS CAN HELP TO MINIMIZE
FEARS.
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MENTAL HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS
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DURING COVID-19 OUTBREAK
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MAINTAIN FAMILIAR ROUTINES IN DAILY LIFE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, OR CREATE NEW ROUTINES,
ESPECIALLY IF CHILDREN MUST STAY AT HOME. PROVIDE ENGAGING AGE-APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES FOR
CHILDREN, CLUDING ACTIVITIES FOR THEIR LEARNING. WHERE POSSIBLE, ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO
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CONTINUE TO PLAY AND SOCIALIZE WITH OTHERS, EVEN
TO RESTRICT SOCIAL CONTACT
DURING TIMES OF STRESS AND CRISIS, IT IS COMMON FOR CHILDREN TO SEEK MORE ATTACHMENT AND
BE MORE DEMANDING ON PARENTS. DISCUSS COVID-19 WITH YOUR CHILDREN IN AN HONEST AND
AGE-APPROPRIATE WAY. IF YOUR CHILDREN HAVE CONCERNS, ADDRESSING THEM TOGETHER MAY
EASE THEIR ANXIETY. CHILDREN WILL OBSERVE ADULTS’ BEHAVIOURS AND EMOTIONS FOR CUES ON
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HOW TO MANAGE THEIR OWN EMOTIONS DURING DIFFICULT TIMES.
THANK
YOU