Stress in the Workplace Concerning COVID-19

By Glenn Miller, CGCS

Everyone is feeling the strain of having to adjust to this new, uncertain reality of COVID-19. In many ways, this pandemic has gone beyond normal job stress and is a true loss of normalcy at every level. Everyone handles stress differently but fear of economic loss and the lack of connection with co-workers, friends and family have led to tangible workplace anxiety for everyone. COVID19 is hitting us hard, and, as businesses, we are expected to balance the health, safety and financial concerns of ourselves, family, and clients.

COVID-19 has made it abundantly clear that humans love to focus on the future and when our future is uncertain and our sense of security is undermined, we move slowly into a state of panic. Even if all your employees are well, they are still worried about the possibility of getting sick and the possibility of infecting their loved ones. In many cases, you are not dealing with facts but “what ifs” and that’s enough to stress any employer. Compounding this is the constant barrage of news with conflicting facts, and the everchanging governmental guidelines.

What can employers do? Fortunately, there are some remedies to workplace stress that have a proven track record. The number one thing you can do to help your employees is communicate often. When you are silent, you leave employees to fill in their own answers. Communicate so they know what their options are and that they do have options. Making sure your employees know who to contact when they have questions about benefits, time-off policies, working from home, or other assistance programs you offer for COVID-19 related job stress. Communicate that the well-being of your employees and clients is a top concern for your business. Make sure to have a way for employees to communicate their concerns with you too. One-way communication can often be as stressful as staying silent.

Every company should have a COVID plan available to employees that is being updated regularly. Your plan can inform employees and customers about ways to continue to work together, steps taken to ensure safety, and ways they can communicate their concerns with management.

Workplace safety must be your top priority. That means ensuring employees wash their hands, have access to basic hygiene supplies including hand sanitizer or soap and water, masks, gloves and continue to social distance from one another. You will need to regularly disinfect highly touched areas and ensure managers are communicating proper behavior to every employee. All

these recommendations and guidelines can be found at the Center for Disease Control website at www: cdc.gov, State of California at www: cdph.ca.gov, the County of Riverside Public Health at www: rivcoph.org or at your local City’s and Chamber of Commerce’s websites (see page 24).

If your employees feel like they have two-way communications and support for their job stress, they will feel better equipped to positively face the rest of the crisis with your clients and at work. We will get through this together, so be safe, stay calm, and during this summer heat, stay cool!

Glenn A. Miller is the Mayor of Indio and Co-Owner & Vice President of Operations of Southwest Landscape & Maintenance, LLC. You can reach Glenn at Glenn@swlandscape.net or by calling (760) 590-8544.

MANAGERS' CORNER

How to Stay Mentally Healthy in Uncertain Times

By Holly Smith, CMCA, AMS

The events of the first half of this year have weighed heavily on many of us. Even with businesses reopening and our lives returning to a “new normal,” television news brings us nonstop pictures of tempers flaring, anger in the streets, tearing down landmarks, worries of racism, and worries about losing the safety of the police - all while COVID cases are increasing. If you are not overwhelmed by now, you are true superheroes.

When I became a manager, I was told that the common interest development (CID) industry was recession proof and that the work of associations must go on regardless of economic circumstances. None of us expected that statement to be tested by a virus. COVID-19 has defined association managers as “essential workers,” and we are expected to persevere and to continue to serve as professional advisors to our HOA boards, even in very uncertain times. Most of us will need to develop new skills to thrive in this environment.

Here are some tips to stay calm and collected when confronted with short tempers, demanding clients, and conflicting ideas of what is best for your community.

Spend some time each day taking care of your own mental health. Put "MH" on your calendar for 30 minutes so you don’t forget, and don’t let work or family fill that time. The struggles we are facing are real and there is no way to face them without taking time for yourself. Start by doing things that rebuild your energy. Mental health experts agree that when your mind is tied up in knots trying to figure out impossible situations, it is important to stop and redirect your efforts on something that requires a different focus. Try these and make your own list of what works for you.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Exercise – Get up, get out, get active. Create a habit of taking multiple mini exercise breaks during the day. No excuses – can you walk? Then, walk! Can you pull a stretchy cord? Then, pull! Can you chase your kids or run through the sprinklers? As Nike says, “Just Do It.”

Deep breathing – We can get so caught up in what we are doing that our breath gets shorter and quicker and our blood pressure rises. The solution is easy – download a breathing app on your phone and use it whenever you feel overwhelmed.

Socialization – Staying connected to family and friends is critically important. Schedule a time to call a friend in the middle of your day. Or, schedule time to catch up with social media in between putting out fires. Staying connected has never been so easy.

Reading and listening to music – A good book or iTune album are almost as good as a road trip. Again, put "MUSIC" or "READ" on your calendar, right at the time each day when you feel the most stressed. For me, it’s 2PM.

Learn to shut down – As long as we are working (even part time) from our homes, it is critically important that when you walk away from your home workspace, that you fully shut down. Turn off your computer, your email, your work phone. Write “OUT TO LUNCH,” “GONE TO BED,” “FAMILY TIME,” “ME TIME” on a Post-it and press it on your computer. Then, walk away!

Nutrition and sleep – Eat healthy, drink lots of water and indulge in moderation. Stick to a strict sleep schedule that works for you (and your clients).

Reach out for help – Make it a habit to ask for help. For some strange reason, we think we need to figure this all out on our own. That’s just not true. Asking for help not only helps us see things more clearly, it empowers those around us.