How is the coronavirus impacting businesses and hiring?

9 Marketer opinions 3 Expert opinions 5 Technical articles 3 Resources

Summary

The coronavirus pandemic has broadly impacted businesses and hiring. Companies faced immediate economic consequences such as client loss and hiring freezes, particularly affecting consultants and those in the airline and hospitality industries. Small businesses have been particularly vulnerable, facing revenue declines and potential closures. The pandemic accelerated the shift to remote work, creating both challenges in managing distributed teams and necessitating new skill sets like digital literacy and adaptability. Job displacement, notably in retail and hospitality, has required workers to reskill. Global economic contraction, surging unemployment rates, and supply chain disruptions have been significant concerns. New labor laws and workplace safety guidelines, including mask mandates and social distancing, have been implemented. Finally, the shift to remote work has presented deliverability issues due to changing IP addresses, suggesting the need to check allow lists, and heightened the importance of employee mental health.

Key findings

Hiring Freezes & Loss: Companies implemented hiring freezes, leading to client losses, especially for consultants and in specific sectors.
Small Business Vulnerability: Small businesses faced revenue declines and potential closures.
Remote Work Acceleration: The pandemic accelerated the shift to remote work, impacting commercial real estate and team management.
Job Displacement & Reskilling: Job displacement, especially in retail and hospitality, required workers to reskill.
Economic Contraction & Unemployment: Global economic contraction and surging unemployment rates were significant concerns.
New Workplace Guidelines: New labor laws and workplace safety guidelines (masks, distancing) were implemented.
Deliverability Issues: Remote work has impacted deliverability due to changing IP addresses.
Employee Mental Health: Employee mental health became a critical concern.
Supply Chain Disruption: Absenteeism and supply chain disruptions impact business outcomes.

Key considerations

Economic Preparedness: Businesses should prepare for economic uncertainty and revenue declines.
Remote Work Strategy: Develop strategies for managing remote teams and ensuring digital literacy.
Reskilling Initiatives: Support workers in reskilling and upskilling to adapt to changing job market demands.
Workplace Safety Measures: Maintain workplace safety measures to protect employees and comply with guidelines.
Employee Well-being: Prioritize employee mental health and provide support resources.
Deliverability Management: Monitor and manage email deliverability, especially with a remote workforce, by checking allow lists and adjusting email practices.
Supply Chain: Businesses should build more resilient supply chains to mitigate future disruptions.

What email marketers say
9Marketer opinions

The coronavirus pandemic has had a multifaceted impact on businesses and hiring. Key effects include absenteeism, supply chain disruptions, and shifts in consumer demand. Many companies, particularly in sectors like airlines and hospitality, have implemented hiring freezes due to economic uncertainty. Small businesses face revenue declines and potential closures. The pandemic accelerated the shift to remote work, impacting commercial real estate and creating challenges for managing distributed teams. Job displacement has increased, particularly in retail and hospitality, requiring workers to reskill. Supply chains have been significantly disrupted, prompting businesses to rethink their strategies. There is a greater demand for remote work skills, digital literacy, and adaptability. Employee mental health has become a critical concern, leading companies to offer more support resources.

Key opinions

Hiring Freezes: Many companies, particularly in airlines and hospitality, have implemented hiring freezes.
Small Business Impact: Small businesses face revenue declines and potential closures due to reduced customer traffic.
Remote Work Shift: The pandemic accelerated the shift to remote work, impacting commercial real estate.
Job Displacement: Job displacement has increased, especially in retail and hospitality, requiring reskilling.
Supply Chain: Significant supply chain disruptions have forced businesses to rethink sourcing strategies.
Skills Demand: Greater demand for remote work skills, digital literacy, and adaptability.
Mental Health: Employee mental health has become a critical concern.
Absenteeism: Absenteeism has affected many businesses

Key considerations

Economic Uncertainty: Businesses must prepare for continued economic uncertainty and potential revenue declines.
Remote Work Challenges: Organizations need to address the challenges of managing remote teams and ensure digital literacy.
Reskilling Needs: Workers should focus on reskilling and upskilling to adapt to changing job market demands.
Supply Chain Resilience: Businesses must build more resilient supply chains to mitigate future disruptions.
Employee Support: Companies should prioritize employee mental health and provide adequate support resources.
Consumer Demand: Consumer demand might fluctuate so marketing channels must be able to adapt

Marketer view

Email marketer from Forbes explains that small businesses are particularly vulnerable, facing revenue declines and potential closure due to reduced customer traffic and enforced shutdowns.

May 2022 - Forbes

Marketer view

Email marketer from LinkedIn shares the pandemic shifted the skills in demand, with a greater need for remote work skills, digital literacy, and adaptability.

May 2023 - LinkedIn

Marketer view

Email marketer from McKinsey explains that the pandemic caused significant supply chain disruptions, forcing businesses to rethink their sourcing strategies and build resilience.

March 2023 - McKinsey

Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit explains the pandemic accelerated the shift to remote work, impacting commercial real estate and creating new challenges for managing distributed teams.

April 2024 - Reddit

Marketer view

Email marketer from SHRM shares the pandemic has highlighted the importance of employee mental health, with companies offering more resources and support to address stress and anxiety.

May 2024 - SHRM

Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares from Seattle, his older kid is home for at least five weeks and they expect all schools/day cares to close soon. They are announcing today no events with more then 250 people. With Amazon and Microsoft all work from home (and anyone else who can), it's all just getting weird...

August 2021 - Email Geeks

Marketer view

Email marketer from SHRM explains that COVID-19 continues to impact businesses through absenteeism, supply chain disruptions, and changing consumer demand.

July 2023 - SHRM

Marketer view

Email marketer from World Economic Forum discusses that the pandemic has accelerated job displacement, particularly in sectors like retail and hospitality, requiring workers to reskill for new roles.

February 2023 - World Economic Forum

Marketer view

Email marketer from The Guardian shares many companies, including airlines and hospitality businesses, have implemented hiring freezes due to the pandemic's economic uncertainty.

January 2024 - The Guardian

What the experts say
3Expert opinions

The coronavirus pandemic has impacted businesses in several ways. One expert lost a client due to a company-wide hiring freeze, demonstrating the immediate economic impact. To support local businesses, another expert suggests purchasing gift certificates from independent restaurants and bars. Additionally, the shift to remote work can impact email deliverability due to changing IP addresses, necessitating the checking of allow lists.

Key opinions

Hiring Freezes: Companies are implementing hiring freezes, impacting consultants and other workers.
Local Business Support: Supporting local businesses through gift certificate purchases can help them survive economic downturns.
Deliverability Issues: Remote work can affect email deliverability due to changing IP addresses.

Key considerations

Economic Impact: Businesses should prepare for potential client losses and economic hardship.
Community Support: Consider supporting local businesses to help them through difficult times.
Deliverability Management: Monitor and manage email deliverability, especially with a remote workforce, by checking allow lists.

Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks suggests asking local, independent restaurants or bars if they offer gift certificates to support them during the economic downturn.

July 2023 - Email Geeks

Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that deliverability is being impacted due to staff working from home as IP addresses will change which might trigger spam filters. Therefore its important to check allow lists.

August 2022 - Word to the Wise

Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks shares she lost her first client due to corona because their company shut down all hiring, including consultants.

May 2023 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
5Technical articles

The coronavirus pandemic led to a severe contraction in the global economy, impacting international trade, investment, and tourism. Unemployment rates surged, especially in industries affected by lockdowns and social distancing. Labor and employment laws changed, introducing paid sick leave and enhanced unemployment benefits. New workplace safety guidelines were implemented, including mask mandates and social distancing. The government launched aid programs like the PPP to support businesses and workers.

Key findings

Global Economic Contraction: The pandemic caused a severe contraction in the global economy.
Unemployment Surge: Unemployment rates surged, especially in affected industries.
Labor Law Changes: Labor and employment laws were modified, including paid sick leave provisions.
Workplace Safety Guidelines: New workplace safety guidelines were implemented.
Government Aid: Government aid programs like the PPP were introduced.

Key considerations

Economic Recovery: Focus on strategies for economic recovery and growth.
Employment Support: Address the needs of the unemployed and support job creation.
Legal Compliance: Ensure compliance with updated labor and employment laws.
Workplace Safety: Maintain workplace safety measures to protect employees.
Access to Aid: Utilize available government aid programs to support business operations.

Technical article

Documentation from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics explains that unemployment rates surged during the pandemic, particularly in industries heavily affected by lockdowns and social distancing measures.

September 2024 - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Technical article

Documentation from IMF answers shares the pandemic led to a severe contraction in the global economy, impacting international trade, investment, and tourism.

August 2021 - IMF

Technical article

Documentation from National Law Review describes that the pandemic resulted in changes to labor and employment laws, including provisions for paid sick leave and unemployment benefits.

December 2022 - National Law Review

Technical article

Documentation from Congressional Research Service explains that the government implemented various aid programs, such as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), to support businesses and workers affected by the pandemic.

January 2025 - Congressional Research Service

Technical article

Documentation from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shares that the pandemic led to new workplace safety guidelines, including mask mandates, social distancing protocols, and enhanced cleaning procedures.

May 2021 - CDC

Impact of the coronavirus pandemic on establishments and ...

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Bureau of Labor Statistics

The impact of COVID-19 on small business outcomes and ...

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