Treating employees well during pandemic will have a lasting legacy

COVID-19 has created a rollercoaster for businesses but those that treat their employees well will see a lasting legacy, says the boss of national accounting firm BDO.

Covid-19 has created a rollercoaster for business but how they treat staff will leave a lasting legacy, says Tony Schiffmann, chief executive partner of BDO in Australia.

The recent snap lockdown announced by the State Government earlier this month shows that the COVID rollercoaster is not slowing down any time soon and business will need to continue to adjust and adapt to these quick change scenarios.

Activating staffing plans and work-from-home arrangements in an eight-hour window, as was the last lockdown scenario, takes careful planning and execution ahead of time in order not to disrupt service levels and output to clients and customers.

This is a real juggling act.

I am strongly of the view that the legacy of how companies treat their employees during COVID will have a lasting impact on their employer brand and there are likely to be winners and losers around this issue.

BDO Australia chief executive partner Tony Schiffmann.

It is hard during tough times to continue, or increase, investment in people whether that is in direct personal and professional development, investment in programs to protect your staff’s wellbeing such as mental health initiatives to manage the impacts of COVID, or direct expenditure to improve technical and digital skills to meet the future demands of your clients; but any investment in your people, especially at this time, will pay dividends into the future.

BDO’s COVID-19 Management Survey unearthed the qualities leaders must have to ensure their people get the support they need in times of crisis.

Our findings cemented my view that leaders must recognise two things. Firstly, leaders must take the time to understand how changes to the way of work impact their people and be willing and able to help them adapt.

Secondly, the way leaders treat and manage their people during times of uncertainty is what shows the true values of an organisation.

This second point will have the biggest impact on your organisation’s ability to effectively stabilise and rebuild. It’s during these periods of crisis and uncertainty that people will look to their leaders not only for guidance, but also to ensure that their actions and words are living the values of the organisation – ultimately retaining the culture you have worked long and hard to build.

It is these two factors that arguably have the biggest impact on an organisation’s ability to withstand the continual change we face in today’s business environment.

As far as I am concerned, there is never a down side to investing in your people and giving them the support they need to succeed.

Tony Schiffmann is Chief Executive Partner of BDO in Australia.