Gawie Cillié, an industrial relations expert and professor at the Stellenbosch University School of Business, said managers are looking to create a “psychological security climate” in the office to avoid any harassment that may arise as a result of the stigma around COVID-19)
Cillié spoke to Ray White on Afternoon Drive about how the pandemic can cause a social stigma opposed to the perception that he has been in contact with the virus or that he has some of the symptoms, even if they are not infected.
I think we should change the language that we use when we communicate about COVID-19. For example, let’s try and develop a people-first language, let’s use inclusive language and less stigmatising terminology.
Let’s speak accurately about the risk of COVID-19 based on scientific data. Let’s talk positively and emphasise the effectiveness of treatment and prevention.
Secondly, I think what managers can do is to actively engage with their employees. The ones that actually work remotely – regular check-ins on their well-being could make a huge contribution to a psychologically safe work environment. Discuss on a regular basis with your on-site employees whether they actually feel safe with the protocols that have been implemented in the workplace.
Perhaps the ultimate vital mechanism or platform for dealing with these problems is to have transparent policies and procedures that can be used to manage conflicts between people arising from COVID-19.
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