Talk to anyone, friends family and neighbours alike about work during the current pandemic, and you will hear a myriad of different stories. There will be those that are furloughed, those still working, those working form home, on reduced hours, on staggered shifts. There will also be those who, unfortunately, have either been made redundant or have worked for companies that have gone under completely. And, whereas normal situations would allow for job hunting through, say, an agency, that option has been hit hard too. Who is recruiting when the majority of businesses are closed indefinitely?

It’s undeniable that the effects of Covid-19 are becoming more and more apparent on business, though depending on what type of business you talk to will depend on what kind of answer you get. The disparity between functioning and non-functioning commerce is startling and also quite inconsistent. For the likes of, say, air traffic controllers and pilots, high paying jobs that under normal circumstance would be safe, it’s now likely, even once the pandemic lifts, people will be apprehensive to fly, putting those careers in limbo. Those working for supermarket chains, however, will largely be safe as people will always need groceries. The retail market has obviously been hit hard, but so long as high street brands can also sell online, they have been able continue, though this does not help those who work in store, who are likely sitting on furlough. And we haven’t even covered the likes of hospitality – pubs and restaurants are the last on the government’s list to re-open and even then, that will likely be at reduced capacity.

This is prevalent across the whole of the UK for both big and small companies alike, and while the furlough scheme has been extended for the next four months this does not guarantee that businesses will survive. It’s likely we’ve all seen the sad sights of local shops having to close their doors permanently. We have also probably seen some that have had to open their doors early and with great risk so as not to flounder. And then there are the big guns, the likes Wetherspoons and Virgin who, for various reasons – the politics and ethics of which are best saved for another blog post – have either struggled under the current scheme or been unable to pay their staff until such time as the government reimburses them through furlough.

To say these are trying times is calling a spade a spade and, unfortunately, there is little advise that one company blog can give. What we can say, though, is that, regardless of whatever personal situation you are in, there will be an end to this. It’s just that things will remain out of sorts for a while yet. While things are looking up for some, there will be a great many who are still in limbo. And that kind of uncertainty cannot be good for anybody, store clerks, managers and CEO’s alike.