By José Ángel de la Paz

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything, all at once, and its implications not only regarding health but also the economic and social spheres, have urged companies to prioritize the safety of their employees and to rethink their strategies for business continuity.

"We're going through an unplanned, unforeseen situation, a pandemic of unseen consequences in previous decades. Millions of people in organizations have suddenly and abruptly made the transition to a flexible digital work format or home office. This, added to the existing stress we experience, presents a challenge to personal and work-related health," said Ignacio de la Vega.

The dean of EGADE Business School and the Undergraduate School of Business at Tecnológico de Monterrey discussed the challenges of today's climate with other leaders of the institution in the webinar "Strategies to maintain a healthy staff in our organizations", from the series “Rising to the challenge: Leadership in the face of COVID-19”.

Guillermo Torre, head of Tec Salud, explained that although measures such as work suspension and social distancing affect academic activity, they are the key to flattening the curve of coronavirus infections in Mexico, where there are already more than 5,000 confirmed cases and more than 400 deaths from the disease.

"If the goal is to protect lives, then reinforcing social distancing, avoiding mass gatherings, and doing it in an orderly fashion by suspending some business activities, undoubtedly helps us to flatten the curve and decrease mortality," he said.

Hernán García, vice-president of Talent and Culture at Tecnológico de Monterrey, noted that companies are experiencing the crisis differently according to their sector.

"While some industries are now extremely busy, there are others that are at a standstill. And what we are seeing is that each company is taking measures according to its reality," he said.

In organizations that have been able to continue their activities online, such as Tec, Garcia pointed out the importance of implementing programs to support and care for the mental and emotional health of employees, whose well-being may be affected by being quarantined at home.

WATCH THE WEBINAR HERE

The upcoming scheduled webinars of this series are:

Friday, April 17: The dilemma of COVID-19 as a threat to the organization's well-being. With:

• Gabriela Garcia, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at PepsiCo Mexico
• Juan Pablo Ventosa, CEO of Human Performance.
• Mauricio Reynoso, CEO of AMEDIRH.
• Alejandro Olivera (moderator), Associate Dean of Lifelong Learning at the Undergraduate School of Business at Tecnológico de Monterrey.

Monday, April 20: Growth opportunities for family businesses in response to COVID-19. With:

• Cristina Alvarado Álvarez, Senior Consultant, Family Business Specialist and Professor at the University of Barcelona.
• Francisco Malagón, Director of Strategic Projects at the Institute of Family Businesses for Mexico and Latin America at Tecnológico de Monterrey.

Wednesday, April 22: A conversation with inspirational leaders to help address the pandemic. With:

• Ivan Lansberg, Co-Founder and Senior Partner of Lansberg, Gersick and Associates (LGA).
• Susana Coppel, President of the Coppel Community Foundation and member of the Board of Directors of Grupo Coppel.
• María Fonseca (moderator), Head of the Institute of Family Businesses for Mexico and Latin America at Tecnológico de Monterrey.

Friday, April 24: Guidance on how to find solutions using the Family-Business system. With:

• Susanne Grimm, Board Member at Estafeta Mexicana.
• Oscar Howell, Author and Founding Partner of LFE Windward.
• Fernando Sandoval Arzaga (moderator), Associate Director of the Institute of Family Businesses for Mexico and Latin America at Tecnológico de Monterrey.

All of these webinars will take place at 1:00 p.m. (GMT-6). You can wcatch the previous webinars here.