COVID-19 Resource Center

Employee Relations:

Companies will be more flexible and open to having employees working remotely. Many companies were open to this concept before COVID-19 but now the “naysayer” companies who didn’t believe it would work for their culture have realized that employees can be productive, connected and trusted working from home.

Sally Stetson, Talent and HR expert

Social Interaction:

I think the ways we think about social relationships will forward to be different - things like automatically shaking hands or hugging people. This outbreak has shown us that those social conventions are just that and aren't necessarily needed to greet or have a connection with other people.

Dr. Sarah Bass, Associate professor of public health

National Security:

There is a definite altering of society in the wake of COVID-19 through restricting social interaction and there is a concern that those restrictions can exacerbate issues related to anxiety and isolation. Those exacerbations could lead to more instances of aggressive behavior.

Raymond Holcomb, Former FBI agent and national security expert

Child Development:

Humans are social beings by nature, so it will be interesting to see how infants and toddlers develop important interpersonal skills or learn to respond to nonverbal cues when their caretakers’ faces are covered, and social distancing is required. These skills can affect social and emotional development into adulthood.

Dr. Jessica Kendorski, Licensed psychologist

Brand Behavior:

Consumers have been traumatized by the pandemic and all that it has upended and displaced in their lives. Add to that the emotion of the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Brands will need, more than ever, to earn and keep the trust of their stakeholders. They will put a higher priority on relationships and reputation, and on communicating that their social priorities align with those of their customers. .

Anne Buhanan, Public relations expert