Employment relations expert and University of Stellenbosch Business School lecturer Gawie Cillié says managers should look to create a “psychological safety climate” in the workplace to avoid any bullying which may occur as a result of the stigma around COVID-19.
Cillié was speaking to Ray White on Afternoon Drive about how the pandemic could potentially provoke social stigma against anyone perceived to have been in contact with the virus or who shows some of the symptoms even if they are not infected.
I think we replace the language we use when we communicated in COVID-19. For example, let’s take a look at expanding people-centered language, using inclusive language, and less stigmatizing terminology.
Let us communicate in particular about the coVID-19 threat on the basis of clinical evidence. Let us communicate definitively and emphasize the effectiveness of the remedy and prevention.
Secondly, I think what managers can do is actively care about their painters. Those who actually paint remotely: normal checks of their well-being can contribute greatly to a psychologically safe painting environment. Talk to your painters on the site if you literally feel safe with the protocols that have been implemented in the paint site.
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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