Racial tension coupled with COVID anxiety challenging workplaces in new ways

It has been a long and tragic spring and summer for employers as well as society at large. The coronavirus pandemic sent legions of workers to the unemployment rolls, and others had to learn how to do their jobs remotely—all while dealing with the threat of an all-too-often deadly disease. Then, on May 25, came news of another black person dying in police custody, the latest in a string of such deaths. The viral video of George Floyd handcuffed on the ground with a white officer's knee on his neck for nearly nine minutes sparked outrage that erupted in massive protests across the country and abroad. Inequality and prejudice—not new issues in the workplace—came to the forefront, leaving many employers wondering what actions they should take.

Employee anxiety

To try to ease employees' anxiety, some employers have responded with increased mental health resources, reminders about employee assistance program (EAP) resources, and commitments to social responsibility.

EAP provider ComPsych released results of a poll in May that asked employees how COVID-19 had affected their sense of well-being. The most common answer was feeling generalized anxiety much of the time. Next was worry about at-risk loved ones. Other effects identified in the poll: feelings of sadness, boredom, loneliness, and nervousness from being at home; worries about job security and finances; and fear of going out.