Gartner Report: Lead Your Employees Through the Emotional Side of COVID-19

June 26, 2020 Sarah Payne

3-minute read

Gartner report

During last month’s Workhuman^®Livestream, best-selling author Simon Sinek wisely predicted “we are going to have to deal with the emotional trauma” of this year’s pandemic. That emotional trauma is not only in reference to the major disruption faced by our children and loved ones, but also includes our colleagues and teammates at work.

A new Gartner report titled, “Lead Your Employees Through the Emotional Side of COVID-19,” offers keen perspective for leaders involved with technology, information, and risk management in how to support employees through this health crisis, keeping engagement and productivity top of mind.

>> Download the full report here. >>

No matter what the impact is on employee experience, Gartner advises “Supporting employees through this requires leaders and all layers of management to be supportive, transparent and highly communicative.” Below are a few examples from the report of how employees have been affected by COVID-19 and some of Gartner’s recommendations for navigating these situations:

Employees are struggling to integrate work requirements with home-life concerns. Many people are juggling a multitude of responsibilities at home, including taking care of young children and elderly parents. Gartner recommends: “Increase support by creating mechanisms for employee concerns to be discussed, encouraging the sharing of ideas to address family needs.” To go further than just the flexibility of remote work, “Empower employees to decide and change where, how, and when work gets done, as needed.”
Disrupted operations at work are creating operational and personal turmoil. Constant disruption is bound to increase employees’ stress levels. Gartner recommends: “Eradicate the pressure to be present by giving clear guidance (based on governmental and company guidelines) on which and when employees come in or stay away from the office or other large gatherings.” It’s also important to “be clear on what the new work priorities are,” so everyone is in alignment.
Employees are afraid of the potential impact on their livelihood. There’s no shortage of projections on the lasting impact of COVID-19 on the job market and global economy. Gartner advises companies be transparent in their communication. “While no organization can guarantee stable employment and income, in the absence of information, employees will by nature assume the worst,” reads the report. “Provide transparency around the business, conditions, and the principles that are used to guide decision-making.”

How organizations respond to this crisis and cater to employee well-being will have a direct impact on engagement and productivity. This report outlines important steps any organization can take to ensure a people-first approach.

To read the full report, click here.

Gartner, Lead Your Employees Through the Emotional Side of COVID-19, Christie Struckman, Matt Hancocks, 17 March 2020

Performance Management During the Pandemic: 'Give Women the Chance to Rise'

Using Surveys to Start a Conversation and Keep a Pulse on Your Organization

What We're Learning From Work From Home

About the Author

Sarah is senior content marketing manager at Workhuman. When not writing and reading about all things culture, leadership, recognition, and appreciation, she enjoys iced coffee, running, and spending time with her daughter, Mabel.
Follow on Twitter More Content by Sarah Payne

[Video] Steve Gross: Making a Positive Impact on Future Generations

How can parents use optimism and positivity to talk to their kids about the pandemic, racial inequities, an...

Using Surveys to Start a Conversation and Keep a Pulse on Your Organization

Now, more than ever, we need to focus on the fundamentals. And there is nothing more fundamental than maint...

Resource Center

Gartner Report: Lead Your Employees Through the Emotional Side of COVID-19

About the Author

Previous Article

Next Article

Gartner Report: Lead Your Employees Through the Emotional Side of COVID-19

About the Author

Previous Article

Next Article

Other content in this Stream

Learn how – through the pandemic and social unrest – leaders at Concentrix have strived to maintain the culture they created while helping newcomers feel they belong

Human connection can bring us one step closer to achieving better ways of working – and a better world for all.

How can companies keep employees engaged and productive in this digital world? Why is a strong corporate culture so important to talent acquisition? And how does D&I promote a positive work culture?

How we can shift from a self-help to an us-help mindset, the impact gratitude can have on our organizations, and how leaders can guide their employees through this time.

We’ve identified four areas of opportunity for healthcare organizations interested in putting a stake in the ground for building the future of work.

Are you using a people-first approach to shift from crisis mode to the new normal? How does this impact employees?

To better understand how the pandemic is impacting employee experience, Workhuman conducted a pulse survey of healthcare workers at U.S. hospitals, medical centers, and other healthcare organizations.

it’s time to seize this rare opportunity to create the new future of work by adopting more agile business practices and building an employee experience that surpasses even what you had before.

Here are some helpful insights that demonstrate the ROI of fully investing in a recognition program to help your organization thrive in today’s COVID-19 reality.

How can parents use optimism and positivity to talk to their kids about the pandemic, racial inequities, and other challenging issues?

Now, more than ever, we need to focus on the fundamentals. And there is nothing more fundamental than maintaining open, honest, two-way communication throughout your organization.

Companies need to give employees a way to come together to talk, listen, and learn. Mentoring is one useful tool to support both organizations and employees through these historic times.

Human-centered leaders are pausing and asking questions. They are bringing others to the forefront to talk about their experiences and reflecting on their own behavior and biases.

As the pandemic and the reckoning on racial justice play out, many employers have begun reopening and even rehiring. So it’s time for employers to start acting on what the disruption is teaching us.

How are small business owners continuing to innovate, persevere and give back during this time? Meet Jacqui Wildgoose, a physiotherapist in Ireland who’s had to launch her new business virtually

It’s on HR and business leaders, as people striving to make the workplace more human, to ensure they’re acting to eradicate racism where they do have control: their organizations.

If home or a reduced office environment is the new physical reality, then how nimble is your organization’s culture?

Celebrating life moments goes beyond just doing the right thing by sending a “congrats” or building stronger relationships with an employee. It is about recognizing that employees are whole people.

Corporate gifting has been transformed into something even more meaningful by Packed with Purpose, a company founded and led by CEO and employee engagement expert Leeatt Rothschild

Any vendor can claim it reduces turnover and increases engagement. Workhuman is the only company that uses more than 50 million moments of human connection points to actually demonstrate these KPIs.