2020 will go down as the year in which an entire generation was tested. The world has quickly had to adjust to a new normal. We are in the throes of massive changes economically, socially, mentally and emotionally.
The immediate threat of Covid-19 is highly personal. You want to keep your loved ones safe, adhere to public health guidance and do everything in your power to keep clear of the virus before a vaccine is introduced. The personal impact of a global pandemic is only just being realised.
The secondary impact of the novel coronavirus has hit the political and economic stage massively. While your health takes prevalence, you are now concerned about your job stability and the threat of redundancy.
Who would have thought just six short months ago people and families were planning their summer vacations, looking forward to doing some home improvements and enjoying the prospect of moving onto pastures new? Now you are knuckling down, watching the purse strings, and becoming more insular.
It is not just the personal effect of the coronavirus that has been profound. The global impact has been far-reaching on the poor, the displaced, the people who work in retail, individuals who work in hospitality, charities, and TV productions. No one had been untouched by this global pandemic.
Personal Impact
If you are worried about your job, it might be time to view redundancy in an alternative way. While it might feel acutely personal and redundancy can sap your confidence, you need to realise that you are no less proficient at your job as you were prior to the pandemic. Redundancy is merely a tool for businesses to use to help them to survive.
If you are made redundant, consider your options. Don’t just simply head back onto the job boards and apply for every single role that comes up using your search terms. You need to be more nuanced in your approach to job hunting.
Before you even venture back into the job market, you need to take a step back and reassess what it is that you want from your professional life. If you have spent the last decade in the same job stuck in a rut and not feeling professionally fulfilled, you need to do something else with your working day.
If Covid-19 has taught us anything, it is that life is short and that our priorities have shifted. Material items no longer hold as much weight in our lives. We are more concerned about happiness, contentment and health. Consider retraining for a career that will leave you feeling more fulfilled and satisfied. A job doesn’t have to be boring and stressful – you can enjoy what you do for eight hours a day.
Charities
The charity sector has seen an uptake in its services in recent months. Domestic abuse helplines have seen a surge in calls after lockdowns and the plight of refugees are in the news more than ever meaning charity resources are stretched. With governments across the globe looking to make spending cuts, charities and international development may be in the firing line.
This means individuals need to take more interest in the work of charities. Donating to an Islamic charity every month can benefit the Lebanon Crisis Appeal after the massive explosion in Beirut as well as the displaced people there. Other charities are seeking more funding from governments, businesses and individuals. With Covid-19 showing no sign of abating just yet, the charity sector is continuing to struggle with its funding.
Politics
The political climate has never been more polarised. Many people are describing this year’s American election as the most important for a generation and they are probably right. With two very extreme standpoints, people are more embedded in partisan voting than ever before. Democrats and Republicans have a real dislike of one another, so much so that peaceful campaigning has descended into fraught confrontations and even violence.
Covid-19 has shone a spotlight on the difference between communities. The Black Lives Matter movement found a global reach as the world was watching when George Floyd was killed by a police officer in the United States. With the world’s gaze firmly focused on the inequality of the world, people are more fired up than ever to do something about it. Rather than just words, people are keen to see action. The global pandemic has made people care more and want to be part of a positive fairness revolution.
Industries
The hospitality and retail sectors will never recover to the same levels as pre-Covid days. The world has lurched online to a greater extent than ever before, people are working from home successfully, and the high street is dead. People are becoming used to this new normal and the retail and hospitality business models are going through a radical metamorphosis. Companies in these sectors need to address the challenges that they face, diversify and give their customer base what they want.
Flexible working has seen people move away from office working. While employers were once nervous about the productivity levels of their staff if they were allowed to work from home, they now welcome the cost-saving prowess of remote working. Staff are working as hard as ever and are eager to produce the same high-quality work that they do when in the office environment.
While the office camaraderie is lacking, the work ethic remains. Zoom meetings are a frequent addition to the working day and can enable a highly productive working environment. Office overheads no longer need to be factored into budgets but the high street is suffering from the lack of daily commutes.
The coronavirus has come as a shock and we are still in awe of it. Governments and individuals are struggling to adapt to any sort of new normal as we venture into 2021 without a vaccine. Worries, anxieties and stresses still abound. The world is shifting at a phenomenal rate and the full impact of Covid-19 is still not fully felt as we are still in the midst of the pandemic.
