Workforce Preparedness for the Covid Era

COVID-19 global pandemic has dramatically changed the lives of people all over the world and that circumstances are unlikely to be the same for a while. Everyone from households to companies have struggled to come to terms with the new normal. Whether you are an individual or a business, the impact has been considerable and in some cases, permanent.

“For companies, dealing with COVID-19 has been a daunting challenge. Accommodating their employees and ensuring that they are adequately prepared to not just cope with COVID, but to work through it has been an arduous task.

Workforce Management during COVID-19

Although the plaudits and adulation has been focused primarily on frontline workers since the inception of the pandemic, the lives of every employee have changed considerably. Therefore, it is imperative for businesses to remain vigilant. For instance, in the immediate aftermath of COVID, a multitude of companies implemented a work from home model. In fact, many of these businesses are still utilizing work from home.

Wherever possible, companies and their employees have opted to work from home. It puts all parties at ease and allows the latter to work from the comfort and safety of their abode without running the risk of catching the virus.

Of course, employees who work in the service industry are unable to work from home. In such cases, regular testing and adherence to safety protocols from all involved is the only way to ensure that the virus does not spread. The former involves following social distancing at all times, washing hands frequently and wearing masks as well.

Supply Chain Management during COVID-19

There have been discussions ad infinitum regarding supply chain management in the midst of the pandemic. At the onset of COVID, many of the larger companies pondered if the pandemic would coerce businesses to finally change their supply chain model.

There is now a much greater push for transparency when it comes to supply chain. For instance, manufacturing companies are taking steps to ensure that they manage supply chain risk effectively. This has been achieved by improving ties with their suppliers and buyers. They have also advocated for greater visibility within their supply chain such as seeking more information from suppliers.

Moreover, the pandemic also compelled many companies to accelerate the adoption of new technologies and innovate in order to ameliorate the efficiency of their supply chain. Based on various surveys, companies have adopted technologies that improve supply chain visibility and tracking and also its analytics.

Other than that, businesses have opted to identify redundancies in the supply chain and to make them more agile. When it comes to redundancies, critics have stated that businesses should have plans in place to deal with unexpected circumstances like the COVID-19 pandemic. As for making their supply chain more agile than before, it is imperative for companies to connect all their suppliers and even customers so that forecasting can be improved.