“Help will always be available to those who ask for it.” – Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows)
We are amidst an unfortunate COVID-19 outbreak. This situation continues to evolve and is being monitored with various remedial and preventive measures are being undertaken. We are faced with social distancing, restricted travel, scaling down of business operations, disruption in supply chains, reduced demand and an overall contraction of economic activity.
This outbreak changed the landscape of the travel and tourism sector, aviation sector and brought almost all the other areas to its knees. As a result of lockdowns, the world economy is being “badly hit” and the industries, worldwide, have come to a standstill. This has led to a lot of job redundancies, furloughs and layoffs. The world’s workers are still reeling from the initial shock of the coronavirus recession, with job losses and welfare claims around the globe already running into the millions as of date.
As the International Labor Organization warns of almost 25 million layoffs if the virus is not controlled, the cuts from Austria to the U.S. reflect the deepest peacetime recession since the 1930s as economies are frozen to beat the pandemic. As per Peter Hooper, global head of economic research at Deutsche Bank AG, unemployment rates in the U.S., the U.K. and Europe are expected to be getting up well into the teens.
Rising unemployment might soon intensify pressure on governments and central banks to speed up delivery of programs and policies to either compensate workers who are made redundant or forced on unpaid leaves, or try to persuade employers to hoard staff withholding incentives, bonuses and maybe also less working hours until the virus fades. Failure would risk an even deeper recession or weak economic recovery that would require policymakers to consider yet more stimulus on top of that already deployed.
In this uncertain time of gloom and economic turmoil, the community has come forward to provide aid to those who have to now face redundancies.
1. The Trussell Trust – Coronavirus and Food Banks
The Trussell Trust supports a nationwide network of food banks and together with the community provides emergency food and support to people locked in poverty or facing a financial crisis due to the coronavirus recession in the UK.
2. UK Government
Not only the community but also the Government of the United Kingdom has stepped forward to your aid with welfare guidance for employees and workers facing redundancies and the brunt of the coronavirus economy crunch.
The welfare guidance of the UK Government provides you with guidance on finding another job, improving your skills, claiming benefits if you are made redundant, budgeting and monetary advice, guidance on coping with redundancy, advice about pensions and help with other redundancy related issues. To find out more about the assistance available in your area email rrs.enquiries@dwp.gov.uk with your postcode.
3. Medical Support
In this state of sudden crisis, it is of no use to stress and lose your sleep because of redundancy. This is the time to keep a calm head on your shoulders and think straight. Even if you are furloughed or made redundant, the medical services are still available for you.
In the UK, the medical system is working hard to ensure that everyone gets medical care from getting hold of medication to getting surgeries. The Mix has put together all the required information about the above and we encourage you to go through their page and contact The Mix for free and confidential help and advice.
Now, that all the three pillars are covered; maybe you can take some time to think about what your next step should be or use that period to relax after a long period of robotic corporate life. Maybe spend time with your family or just sit with them and watch some entertaining programs on Netflix or Amazon Prime. In case you do not have subscriptions to those, our suggestion is to check out Openculture for free movie nights with family or just on your own. If you are bookworm, how about reading those novels you wanted to read but did not have time for or better yet why not write one. These are the most common two activities one can do during the lockdown, but for more such activities, you can check out the list put together by FutureLearn.
Stay strong, there is always light at the end of the tunnel.
ABL Recruitment team
