If you’re feeling unsafe at work during the COVID-19 pandemic, you’re not alone. It’s a scary time, and normal to be worried.

Families, companies, and individuals are all struggling with how to stay safe. And we’re all trying to process an overwhelming amount of information that isn’t always consistent. 

At Empower Work, we’ve seen an uptick in people reaching out about these fears. Some of these issues are new and directly raised by COVID-19. The virus is also bringing existing workplace tensions to the forefront. For many workers, an employer’s choices during the pandemic confirm an existing sense that their well-being isn’t valued.

In pandemic times as in normal times, employees want to feel that their employers respect and value them. And they look to the following as indications:

Workers want to be safe.

Worker’s health–emotional and physical–is important. 

A grocery store worker texted us about their “concern I will be contracting the coronavirus, which I want to avoid.”

Like many frontline workers, they’re in direct contact with the public, along with 49 to 69 million “essential workers,” including people who maintain our infrastructure, from keeping the lights on to manufacturing and legal services. They were hopeful that their employer was taking health and safety seriously for certain employees by putting up protections at check out and providing masks, but it wasn’t universal. And they were unsure about their employer’s support for sick leave and time off.

Earlier in the pandemic we heard from many people that their employers were requiring them to report to a work site even if they perform administrative work they could do at home. Now, conversations about reopening businesses have sparked new fears about safety and health in the workplace in terms of health protocols and ability to work remotely if needed. 

At minimum, workers want to feel physically protected and free to share their safety concerns. No one should be forced to choose between their livelihood and protecting their loved ones’ health. 

And employees want support for mental well-being as well as physical health. In a time of uncertainty about disease, finances, childcare, and more, kindness, respect, and concern are especially important. One person shared, “I can not mentally deal with the added anxiety from him saying the stuff he says and worrying day to day if he is going to fire me.”

Providing clear guidance on available resources for mental health, as well as checking in with employees respectfully is imperative.

Workers want employers to trust them.

Trust is central to any relationship. Workers want employers to trust that they are committed to their jobs and care about their coworkers and the interests of the business. 

One person who connected with us wrote, “My parents are living with me due to being laid off. I cannot work from home without having a medical excuse [in writing for my employer]. I know my mother has respiratory issues. She hasn't had health insurance in a while. They turned down our documentation because it was a few years out of date.”

This person wanted to be taken at their word and trusted that they were making a decision that was right for them, their family, and the business. The employer’s lack of trust not only made it harder for the worker to access an accommodation that the employer offered to provide, it increased stress. 

Workers want employers to communicate with them.

Communication is always important; it becomes even more important in uncertain times. 

A worker in manufacturing wrote, “if you say y’all care about our well being, I would figure y’all would come down and speak with us.” 

Clear guidelines and training, if possible, get everyone on the same page about the business, support for employees, and safety procedures for workers and customers. But workers want more than just a sheet of paper and a list of rules. They want to know that their bosses care about them as human beings. When workers put their health on the line, they appreciate gestures of solidarity like modeling safety protocols together. For workers at home, managers can make a point of being more available and communicative, whether it’s doing extra check-ins or simply spending time together catching up in a video chat.

Communication is a two-way street. We feel more valued and respected when having the opportunity to give input and feedback, and when we receive acknowledgement that our ideas have been heard.

We all have power.

In this pandemic, our sphere of personal control has been altered. But as always, you have choices: 

• Protect yourself. What do you need at your job to feel safe? See an opportunity to make your workplace safer? If it’s not being provided, you can ask, and if needed, collaborate with other coworkers to get what you need. If something your employer is doing violates Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, you have a right to file a complaint. Not all employers are required to provide protective equipment. If you have or can make protective equipment at home, use it at work if it’s not being provided. 

• Ask your employer for more information. If something is unclear, ask questions of your supervisor, peers, or leadership.

• Identify special health or family needs. Do you have a health condition that puts you at higher risk for contracting coronavirus or developing complications? Are you living with someone who is at higher risk? Talk with your doctor about your health condition, risks, and what you need. Consider whether it would be helpful for the doctor to provide a letter to your employer–though ideally your employer would not require documentation.

• Recognize that we’re all feeling pressure. Whether you’re onsite or connecting with coworkers on video calls, we're all coping with an unusual situation. Some of us are sad or anxious or overwhelmed; others have a hard time adjusting to new procedures and technologies. There are many factors that might make a manager, coworker, or teammate seem rude, distant, or less friendly than usual. We don’t have control over others, but we do have control over how we manage our own emotions. Getting used to our “new normal” will take patience and understanding. 

Connecting with others is a sign of strength. 

A person who connected with an Empower Work peer counselor wrote that just being heard helped them take the next step. They shared, “I would like to see more of this type of support, especially in the current pandemic season. Humanity needs this.”

If you need help navigating our new reality, reach out. Our trained volunteers are here to help you find a path forward or just feel less alone. Text HELLO to 510-674-1414. We can help.