Fear and anxiety about the coronavirus are real. For many individuals, the uncertainty about the future is causing symptoms of depression to worsen. Government regulations being enforced to limit the spread of the virus including self-isolation and physical distancing can be a tough thing to handle, especially for those living alone.

The workforce has changed dramatically and employees across various industries were thrust into what they thought was a work-from-home “trial” back in March. Nine months later, these employees are still working remotely with no definitive plan to go back to the office. In fact, tech powerhouses such as Google have announced their employees will continue to work from home until at least next summer.

The reality for people working with the public, is quite the opposite. They do not have the

luxury to work safely in isolation. Their paychecks depend on high-frequency interactions with

the general population, causing workplace stress in some individuals.

Anxiety around working with the general public

The probability of transmission is high not only within the healthcare system, but also in any workplace involving customer or public service. People working in retail or restaurants for example, are just as susceptible to catching and spreading COVID-19 as doctors and nurses. Sequentially, this awareness of exposure risk is causing employees to become anxious about going to work.

Now more than ever, business owners are adjusting to public health measures and making the safety of their staff a top priority. This means providing protective attire such as surgical masks, implementing additional sanitation controls, creating ample space to socially distance and embracing the right technology to facilitate employee-customer interactions.

Staying sane during this unprecedented holiday season

It’s no secret the holiday rush can be overwhelming for shoppers and employees alike. Add a pandemic to the mix, and the situation becomes a lot more problematic and chaotic. During the holidays, employees are expected to work faster, take on more shifts, deal with more customers and even train seasonal workers. The added stress can take a toll on an employee’s productivity and in turn, negatively affects the business. Without some careful pre-planning, employers risk losing productive employees to environmental stressors beyond their control.

What employers are doing to help reduce anxiety in the workplace

A huge stressor for retailers, especially in December and January is inventory management. Knowing how and when to order, maintain and manage products can save a company loads of money. Today, many businesses understand that time is of the essence therefore choosing to implement sophisticated software systems to eliminate manual processes will not only facilitate their internal processes, but also help profits to flourish faster.

Making sure the shop has enough items in stock to meet customer demand is imperative during this busy period. Although customer service will look a little different this year, technology is making things simpler and a lot more efficient. Tracking stock with inventory management software allows accurate, real-time reporting at one’s fingertips so shopkeepers can make more informed decisions, and improve their ROI. Simplifying the staff’s daily inventory tasks with a user-friendly mobile device makes processes smoother.

With the right technology, less stress is placed on the sales people who typically have to leave the cash register to verify whether products are in stock. Returned items can be removed from inventory at the touch of a button, eliminating costly errors. Staff can take the intelligence with them so they don’t feel the pressure of the lines building up. SKUs can be traced across multiple store locations. Even contactless payments can be performed from anywhere in the store using intuitive retail software technology, reducing wait times and creating a better customer and employee experience.

Many businesses are already taking action and upgrading their inventory management systems to prepare for the holiday rush. It will be these retailers who best thrive through the challenges of the pandemic during the holiday shopping season. There are companies like Lightspeed helping retailers go thought this process with their POS system. You can visit their site to learn more.

Improving the in-store shopping experience

With the holiday season in full swing, the pressure for retailers to meet customer expectations is at an all-time high. Improving the in-store shopping experience is of utmost importance these days, as the COVID era saw an unprecedented boom in online shopping due to tight lockdown restrictions. However, a pleasant shopping experience for customers can’t possibly be achieved without happy and healthy employees.

This year, the added complexities of COVID-19 are forcing employers to figure out how to minimize stress for their employees and grow their business. While more and more stores are turning to technology to help foster shorter wait times, less frustrated customers and happier employees, many still use cumbersome excel spreadsheets to track their inventory, however that will soon change. They too will realize that retailers utilizing technological advancements to simplify the employee’s daily tasks, are turning one-time shoppers into repeat customers.

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