Q: In some ways, the impacts of COVID-19 will forever change the way we work. From a Human Rights perspective, what will be some of the most significant challenges and opportunities ahead for organizations and their employees?
A: I think the challenges are enormous on all fronts. Aside from the very obvious economic challenges that many organizations already face and will continue to face for some time in the aftermath of this public health emergency, from the Commission’s perspective we are deeply concerned about the impact of COVID-19 on mental health here in the province.
Over the past few years, there has been a growing awareness and a greater degree of comfort in having conversations about the importance of mental health in the workplace. Those conversations need to continue to take place. Social isolation is going to contribute to mental health challenges for a lot of people. Everyone is under huge amounts of stress right now, from workplace stressors like dealing with layoffs or business closures to personal stressors such as homeschooling children and the difficulties associated with personal tasks like buying groceries.
I think addressing the mental health impacts of this crisis will be a big challenge for organizations and employees moving forward and we’re encouraging employers to be as flexible as possible, in the current circumstances, in accommodating mental and physical disabilities.
We’re also encouraging employers to maintain regular communication with their teams to assess people’s well-being. For example, in our office, we’re conducting all-staff Zoom meetings twice a week to keep tabs on how people are coping. If we get the sense an employee is struggling or perhaps needs additional support to do their work, we can get them the help they need. That’s one way we’re approaching the challenge.
In terms of opportunities, I think there is a huge opportunity for organizations to embrace and transition to more flexible remote work arrangements. In my over 20-year career, I’ve seen employers dabble, to varying degrees of success, with things like telework and I think part of the problem in adopting more flexible work arrangements has been a lack of buy-in from senior leadership. The current circumstances are forcing many employers out of their comfort zones.
Many organizations are innovating how they work and are starting to embrace the technologies that will allow their employees to have more flexibility in the way they work. I think it is going to be a really great growth opportunity for organizations, leaders, and employees as they become more adept at using these technologies and will hopefully open more people up to the idea of working this way in the future.
Q: Looking ahead, and considering the long-term implications of the current pandemic, what do you predict will be the defining changes to the workforce and economic landscape of Atlantic Canada over the next five to 10 years?
A: There’s no question that organizations, employers, and employees are going to learn and grow from this experience. We're going to see workplaces embrace more flexible work arrangements and I hope this will lead to better work-life balance and will reduce the prevalence of mental health challenges in the workplace.
I think organizations were already on their way to adopting these new ways of working, mainly driven by millennials who have been more demanding of work-life balance than previous generations, but the current circumstances have rapidly increased the pace of change.
Modernizing our organization has been central to the Commission’s strategic plan over the past few years. It has essentially allowed us to continue delivering our mandate to protect and promote human rights in the province without skipping a beat. The Commission’s website is regularly updated, staff have all the IT tools they need to work remotely, our dispute resolution process is fully operational, and our virtual classroom continues to provide free training to hundreds of people every week.
I hope this experience will also provide people with an increased capacity for empathy and a deeper understanding that we are all part of a community. Whether you are a part of the government, an essential service, or a business, right now we're all on team ‘fight COVID-19’, and by working together we will overcome this. I truly believe that.
Everyone is making sacrifices right now and I’ve been seeing amazing examples of people stepping up and helping each other for no reason other than it's the right thing to do. Things can certainly seem difficult and even bleak at times, but I am encouraged to also see many signs of positive changes, of people getting creative, supporting those in need, and that gives me a lot of hope and optimism for the future.
About Atlantic Leader Insights
Atlantic Canada’s economy is fueled by a diverse array of private and public sector entities that employ thousands of people and contribute to our region’s growth and prosperity. But how are these organizations optimizing the potential of their people, and what insights have they gained about the future of our economy from their innovative initiatives?
KBRS recognizes the critical importance of attracting, developing, and retaining inspiring leaders and top talent within Atlantic Canada. We sat down with leaders at several high-impact Atlantic Canadian organizations to talk about our region’s opportunities and challenges. This article is one in a series that aims to collect these leaders’ insights on how we can enhance our economic outlook by strengthening our workforce.
