Question

2-Each student will prepare an 8-12 page research paper (2-3 pages for each question): double-spaced, Times New Roman and 12-point font.

3-Originality is a “must” in research. Therefore, use your own words when answering questions - DO NOT copy text from your book or any other source. Copied answers will result in a zero on this assessment.

4-Use references, if needed. Please use APA format when citing sources.

The coronavirus is hitting businesses and their employees. Some businesses are still open and millions of employees are working to serve customers. Some of the employees work in their workplaces while some others work from home. Almost all employees worry whether they will lose their jobs or if they will have a pay cut. It is obvious that unemployment will rise because millions of employees will lose their jobs and the remaining employees may have a pay cut (10, 20, 30, 50%) depending on the position in his/her workplace. Because of the coronavirus, the business environment has started to change. It is becoming a challenging fast-changing environment. Currently, many managers are faced with difficulties. In the near future and in the long run, they will need to deal with important issues. Lastly, you have to remember that one can easily manage firms during prosperous times but effective managers flourish during difficult times.Below is a sample list of terms that you can use when answering the questions. Job security and protection; Employee morale; Employee stress; Anxiety; Employee wellness; Effective decision making; Work performance; Key competencies; Productive employees; Quality of work produced; Work-life balance; Mental health; Employees in a high-risk health category; Illness; Government sector; Health sector; Security forces.

Q1-What should managers do to manage employees and minimize the negative effects of the coronavirus on employees? Discuss the major OB issues faced by managers when dealing with employees who are currently working and the major OB issues that managers need to handle in the near future.

Q2-What would be the possible changes and developments in the workforce and workplace diversity in the near future and in the long run? Discuss.

Q3-How should managers handle an employee that is unable to work due to age or health issues?

Q4-What kind of expertise, knowledge, skills and abilities will be needed from employees in the near future and in the long run? Discuss.

Q5-What should managers do to increase the job satisfaction of currently working employees? Discuss.

Q6-Discuss how to deal with emotions that can arise from the current situation and how to stay emotionally healthy during the coronavirus outbreak.

Answer 1

COVID 19 pandemic has hit the business throughout the globe. Most of the countries have announced lockdown to prevent the spread of the virus. Therefore all business have also been closed so that employees and the people associated with the business may not be a carrier of the virus to the society. This is basically a droplet infection that spreads people to people. The virus has spread in around 125 countries throughout the globe. The government of each and every country has the current challenge of saving human lives. Thinking about businesses and the economy has become a secondary option. But, this is a fact that once the spread of the virus gets controlled there will be a big challenge to handle the economy for every country. Because we may lose more lives to the due loss of jobs and other financial problems in society. Therefore a business must have proactive planning to handle the challenges once everything opens up. Following may be the points where we need to be focused immediately.

(a) Proper estimation of market demand.

(b) Expanding or contracting the operations as per market demand.

(c) Reducing per unit cost of operations.

(d) Adopting modern manufacturing techniques like JIT, KAIZEN, SIX SIGMA, TPM, etc

(e) Mainmating high employees moral.

(f) Avoiding non-value added activities from the operations.

What managers should do to avoid the negative effects of Corona on employees.

(1) Employee wellness:- Following activities should be adopted for employees' wellness.

(a) Employees should be well aware of the nature of the spread of the virus.

(b) Proper screening should be done before entering in premises.

(c) Regular exercise and yoga for all the employees should be mandatory to improve the immune system.

(d) If possible health check-up camps should be organized.

(e)Social distancing should be maintained

(2) Employee morale:- Following points to be adopted to improve the morale of the employees

(a) On-time salary and wages

(b) Announcement for incentives on special achievements.

(c) Award for the suggestion.

(d) Formation of the cross-functional team to enhance the positive thinking in the organization

(3) Employees Stress:- Following actions should be taken to reduce employee stress.

(a)Assurance of job security

(b)Overburden of responsibilities should be avoided.

(c)Exercise and meditation should be mandatory in the workplace.

(d) Bonding among employees should be increased.

(4)Anxiety:- This can be refused by the following methods.

(a) The financial status of each employee should be verified.

(b) Health issues should be taken care of.

(3) The relation between the boss and the subordinate should be strengthened.

(4) Workplace Culture should be favorable.

Possible changes and Developments in the workplace:-

(1)Job security and protection:- Since sales output drops during a recession manpower cost per unit sales increases considerably, therefore management tries to cut off the no of employees to reduce the manpower cost so that they can meet the target. Employees need to be multitasking and should take as much work as possible. The company should feel that the employee can reduce the management cost by accepting different challenges. Managers have the responsibility to train their subordinates to different skills. Also, employees should adopt techniques like KAIZEN to be innovative and extra productive.

(2) The machine and services layout should be revised so that social distancing can be properly maintained in the workplace.

(3) Effective Decision Making :-

(a) Decision making should be rational ( Data based)

(b) Proper analysis tools like FMEA, SWOT ANALYSIS , etc should be applied.

(C) MRM should be conducted before decision making.

(d) Top management should be involved while making a decision.

What should be done for the employees unable to work due to health issues:-

Mental Health:-

(1) NLP techniques should be adopted

(2) On job training should be given on a regular basis.

(3) Zim and yoga centers should be set up at the workplace

(4) Employees should be encouraged for meditation.

Work-Life Balance:-

(1) Family gets others should be done once in a month.

(2) Working late hours should be avoided.

(3) Working on holidays should be avoided.

(4) Social work outside the premises should be promoted.

High- Risk Health Category:-

(1) Such employees should not be working late hours.

(2) The night shift for those employees should be avoided.

(3) If possible regular check-up should be ensured.

(4) Should be encouraged for regular exercises.

What companies should do to improve job satisfaction:-

(1) Employee employer relations should be improved.

(2) The job should be delegated as per qualification and experience.

(3) Pay scales should be revised as per market demand.

(4) Training programs should be organized on a regular basis.

(5) Job security should be ensured.

Skills and knowledge required for the employees in the near future:-

(1) Multi-tasking skills

(2) Capacity to work under pressure

(3) The professional approach to solving the industrial problem.

(4) Teamwork and leadership approach.

(5) Sound physical and mental health.

(6) Cool minded and positive thinker.

(7) The capability of adjusting in a dynamic business environment .

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