According to the latest stats, over 166,000 people are infected and 6000 reported deaths globally, as a result of COVID-19. It is now safe to say that the coronavirus (covid-19) is making its presence felt, globally.
Hysteria has set in and thousands of doomsday preppers raided grocery store shelves for non-perishable items, such as pasta, rice, canned food and bottled water. Stores are starting to limit bulk buying. In certain industries fear are setting in as face masks and disposable gloves are in short supply, all due to the bulk buying and stocking up of people buying out of fear.
Government announced over the weekend that every single person entering New Zealand after 1am on Monday, 16 March 2020, have to self-isolate for at least 14 days. Australia followed shortly after New Zealand, implementing the same precaution.
Undoubtedly, this will have an enormous effect on the country as a whole, but the travel industry will surely be affected the most. A media release this morning announced Air NZ declaring that they are starting with a redundancy process, feeling the effects already even before the drastic measures taken by the Government over the past weekend.
The Government is still silent on possible a tax relief and wage subsidies for affected businesses, and as far as we know the minimum wage hike planned for next month are still going ahead.
We have drafted a comprehensive Coronavirus (COVID-19) Management Plan, to ensure both the Employer and the Employee knows exactly what is expected of each other with regards to COVID-19. The plan can be adapted according to your business requirements. Please go to the Library section on the Employers Toolbox, the Plan can be found under the Policies tab.
The plan will be updated as we receive more information on the virus and the effects thereof. Its recommended to continuously send proactive communication on the facts and expectations to all staff and to discuss the effects of the virus on business with them. As mentioned, communication will be a key principal to insure stability in the workplace.
Read our latest from the Government response on the pandemic situation:
https://www.employers.co.nz/the-government-has-released-an-economic-response-package-blog.aspx