Page 160 - PCMI Journal December 2020

COVID-19 Group Discussion — Impact on Business
Peter Engel Newcut
Peter Engel summarized his group’s discussion, which primarily consisted of PCM etching companies. These companies were declared essential and have remained open and operating throughout the pandemic.
Peter Jefferies Heatric, Division of Meggitt
The makeup of the Peter Jefferies discussion group was a bit different, made up of self-employed manufacturers as well as PCM etchers.
Some had moved their office staff to work at home, and others created split shifts so they could adhere to social distancing guidelines.
Many in this group said that work has remained steady throughout the pandemic, although specific sectors were down, including automotive and aviation. On the other hand, military and home security work surged in March and April. By October, attendees indicated that work had leveled off a bit.
Everyone acknowledged that they had implemented mask mandates and social distancing policies. Some noted that they had produced in-house sanitizers and installed doorplates to allow for touchless openings.
While all pivoted to communicating with their remote workforces via Zoom, GoTo Meetings, and Skype- type software, some also set up VPM programs so at- home employees could securely connect to the office computer system.
Some also created networking systems for at-home workers to keep them connected and engaged. Others developed risk assessment evaluation programs to monitor mental health and ensure that employees had the proper workspace set up that was ergonomically correct.
This group had not witnessed significant workforce reductions, furloughs, or layoffs, but some employees had been challenged by childcare issues when schools were closed.
Peter reported a general unease amongst his discussion group, given what is going on with COVID-19 in the workforce. People are uncertain about the future and concerned about what is going on worldwide.
The group noted that they experienced an uptick in business at the beginning of the pandemic, mostly due to medical contracts. However, it appears that business is now on a downward trend.
Peter noted that his company’s primary market is aerospace, which has seen significant declines and is not likely to change in the short term. Peter added that his work related to gas has been resilient to the economic downturn.
All noted that their companies adhered to workplace safety protocols, including mask-wearing, washing stations, and keeping people apart. Working at home was encouraged and supported, but still challenging and not the same as connecting in-person daily with colleagues.
While the group agreed that productivity remains
high in their companies, they recognize that working
at home can lead to feelings of isolation. They also
said that all companies must continue to take steps to address their employees’ general health and well-being.
Participants expressed concern about the long-term economic impact on businesses and individuals as governments take on accelerated debt during the crisis. Everyone noted that the coming cold winter months could increase COVID-19 cases, which may prove even more challenging.
Issue 136 December 2020 PCMI Journal 160