May31, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemichas spread throughout the world. Government has to lock down the countries and people have to stay at home, in order to prevent the further spread-out of the virus. This worldwide chaos has seriously affected the World Economic. Unemployment rate has been rose to record high.
During this worldwide chaos, how should the corporation react? First of all, most of the corporations have to face the shrinking of business. Hendrick Lam is working for a global operation of a public listed company. He is to share his observation about the pandemic and how to deal with it.
He mentioned that his company was also face the situation to make the decision whether to lay off staff and workers for better profit or not. After many serious discussions, the final decision is to keep all the people and try to save expenses somewhere else. Otherwise thousands of families will be affected and create more problem for the society.
It was really difficult to choose between profitability and maintaining the workforce. But conscience can help people to make the right decision. Corporations have better financial strength than the employees to bridge this difficult period.
At this time, doctors, nurses and the healthcare personnel are fighting the virus at the front line, even though they have limited supply of personal protection equipment (PPE). The conscience had guided them to do the right thing and help more people. There is no single hospital in this world with enough resources to handle such high number of patients which require special negative pressurize rooms and equipment.
Readers could read from the news, most of the doctors and nurses have to take whatever they could to protect themselves. These including rubbish bag and self-made mask. There were doctors and nurses had sacrificed their lives during the war between human and virus. They are the brave heroes and should be remembered.
Therefore, there are opportunities for PPE manufacturers to sell with much higher prices. But they have to decide whether it is appropriate to earn extra money or fulfill corporate social responsibility to help the world to save more people. Corporations also have to protect their staff and workers to work in a safe and protected environment.
So how should the individual fight this battle? Hendrick suggested to stay calm and follow the government instruction to prevent further spread out of the virus. They could practice 3 Don’ts and 5 Dos to keep themselves safe and happy. 3 Don’ts are not to be angry, not to be worry, and not to be anxious. 5 Dos are to wash hands frequently, to drink more warm water, to do more exercise, to be happy, and to be more careful.
Hendrick has shared the 3 Don’ts and 5 Dos with his friends in various countries. One of his friends who is the General Manager in US has used it for their staff. He also indicated that it is not appropriate to stock up on daily consumable and food to destroy the balance of supply and demand. If everybody controls themselves, the normal supply schedule should be adequate. By the way, the toilet paper has nothing to do with the virus protection.
Wish the Conscience guide the World Leaders to put aside the political disagreement. The world share PPE to where they needed most. Also the vaccine development have no political string attached to it, in order to save more people’s life.
During COVID-19 pandemic period, Hendrick stated that virus teaches us that air, simple food, and water, can keep our family and friends to live. With most of the country being lockdown, our earth becomes bluer, the water greener, and air fresher. Therefore, he concluded that we should reduce our demand on natural resources to live in simple life. This way, human beings can live in harmony with Nature, including the Virus.
Photo:Webshot.