Company Values and Managing Employee Stress in Time of COVID-19

(Photo by nikko macaspac)

“I am not productive at work these days,” a friend told me. “Did you talk to your manager about it?” I asked. “Well, I am afraid my manager might not be mighty receptive. Also, I do not want to leave a lousy impression because my performance review is coming up soon,” he said. 

“Honesty” and “integrity” were among the core values of his company, as I later found out from the company’s website. And this made me think. Why do companies have values that their employees cannot exercise? Why do companies not let people be guided by what the companies preach? 

Words not backed by deeds cannot move, and might even confuse, people. When parents impress upon their child the value of “honesty,” but also always lie in front of the child, then such guidance is useless. Likewise, if a manager is not ready to have an honest conversation about his or her subordinates’ work, then subordinates cannot put faith in “honesty” as a value of the organization.  

Because of COVID-19, these are trying times for everyone.  In times like these, you should be able to have an honest conversation about your work with your manager –  particularly if “honesty” is one of the core values of your company. 

If you cannot have such an honest conversation with your manager now, then it is not only absurd but also unfair. 

Unfair because there is no time more unsettling than this. There is no environment more stressful than this. There is no fear of the unknown, for you and your families, more immediate than this. And I have known no time in which we all need more empathy than this. 

It is now time companies show kindness and play fair. They should ask their managers to start an honest conversation with their employees, and take their employees out of a stressful impasse. If companies treat employees fairly today, then employees will contribute to companies’ growth with the same fairness and zeal tomorrow.