And now that? Adapting to a new work reality

“Normal” life begins to resume for a large part of the population After confinement by COVID-19, we begin to have more freedom of movement, we can see family and friends, we can make “non-essential” purchases, we can go for a drink, to the beach ...

This is allowing us to recover some of our past habits (always without forgetting that we must continue to maintain all relevant safety measures), but many people do not have a routine to rejoin for different reasons. Within all the possible routine changes, we are going to focus on the work part.

Your situation may have changed indefinitely for who should continue teleworking, who is in an ERTE, or who, unfortunately, has lost their job, is at risk of dismissal or will not access the jobs of summer. It is also possible that there are students who have completed their studies and are now facing the uncertain and altered world of work by COVID-19.

Of all the options raised, the one that, a priori, the least discomfort and uncertainty can generate us is the option of teleworking, since we can have a certain job and economic stability. That is why we are going to place special emphasis on the rest of the situations and the possible psychological consequences of these.

• Related article: "Work and organizational psychology: a profession with a future"

Adapting to a new work reality

People who are in an ERTE can consider how this situation will end, when they will be able to return to their work and, even, if they will return or could lose their job. Many times, this is associated with certain cognitive dualities, since on the one hand they have the "security" of being supported for the ERTE and for the fact of not having lost their job, but at the same time, it is a situation in which they have not returned to their position of job.

Another situation that may become connected to the previous one occurs in those people who have lost their jobs or who will not access the one they usually have; for example, in summer contracts. In this case, the person can go through two phases.

On the one hand, he has to accept the situation of unemployment, with the possible economic problem that may be associated with it.

In this phase, the person has to evaluate what economic consequences this new situation has, that is, if they have savings, if they have other sources of income at home, the expenses you usually have, and with all this, explore your short-term options to be able to face the day a day.

Once this phase is controlled, the person has to consider in the medium term what other employment options they may have.

Following the connection between the different situations, the search for employment options phase can be related to acomplaint in which a person is trying to enter the labor market for the first time, or not. It is a stage that, in itself, can be hard and complicated, which is why in this turbulent situation it can generate fear in certain people.

To do?

It is true that the employment situation may have been complicated in the short term, but we must be aware that this is a specific situation that will gradually return to its course. It is important at this point to be aware of what our thoughts and fears are.Since a fundamental aspect to control our response in this environment is to be as objective and rational as possible. It seems obvious, but unfortunately it is easy and frequent to get carried away by fear that can lead to both panic and blockage, and both options are very negative.

In these situations, all the mechanisms that the person has to be able to face this situation have to be put in place. Sometimes the problem may be that the person does not have job search resources, for example, in those cases It is important that the person is instructed on the main forms of job search, as well as on the preparation of their CV and other practical aspects.

Another situation that can occur is that the person needs to expand their knowledge and training in the sector to which they want to dedicate, so they can help the person to draw up an action plan and see what areas he needs to reinforce and how to get those knowledge and skills that will help him in his future labor.

Finally, many times you work with the person to help them control the emotions that cause them to go into crisis. By this we refer to thoughts such as "I will never find a job", "If it was difficult before, now it is impossible", "Why should I try?"

The only thing this type of thoughts generates is discomfort and blockage in the person. Obviously, We do not want to go to the other extreme and for the person to assume that they will find a job the first time, but we do want to put all their efforts to achieve it.

Something that these situations have in common is that they can generate a feeling of uncertainty in the person and it is something in which we must intervene.

Since Mariva Psychologists we want to help you get the best out of yourself and especially in these difficult times. Our job is to provide the tools you need depending on your individual situation and that you manage to face and cope with all these situations in the most satisfactory way possible. You can contact us at this page.