KRISTEN CARTER | Account Supervisor

Unless your physical presence is critical to your job role, or your employer is forbidding remote work opportunities, staying home is the most important action young adults can take during the COVID-19 pandemic. But it doesn’t stop there. In addition to helping flatten the curve, there are multiple important roles young professionals can play within their companies during this unique and challenging time.

Encourage Virtual Connectivity

Offering creative technology solutions to help your company operate efficiently and effectively during this crisis is great, but how are you connecting with others on an emotional level? Having grown up practicing virtual communication through AOL Instant Messenger, Myspace, Facebook and so on, Millenials and Gen-Zers are natural pros at this. Here are a few ideas: Create a shared document of book and movie recommendations to enjoy while practicing social distancing. Include words of encouragement when appropriate at the beginning or end of an email, or simply check in on a coworker to see how they are handling the abrupt changes. Start a lighthearted thread (or post on your company’s intranet) about what your “temporary officemates” (children, pets) are up to while you work at home. Whatever it is, find those helpful ways to promote a positive, connected culture amid strange circumstances.

Use Your Free Time Wisely

If you’re following the CDC and WHO guidelines, your social calendar is likely pretty open. Take advantage of your extra time at home to seek out any professional development materials (webinars, trainings, books, etc.) you’ve been interested in but haven’t previously had the time to explore (we recommend checking out edx.org). That way, when you’re able to return to a normal schedule, you’ll add even more value as your company works to recover from the effects of the pandemic.

Step Up When Possible

We’re all trying to navigate new processes and routines in light of COVID-19, but it’s especially challenging for those with children whose schools have closed. These professionals are now having to balance a full day of work while also managing homeschooling and general care for their kids. This is an opportune time for young professionals without children to step up and offer added support wherever possible. Teamwork is always important to business success, but it’s especially crucial during this new, but temporary, way of life.

Be a Watchdog for Opportunities to Give Back

As outlined in a previous Sunwest blog post, there’s a very delicate way to approach giving back during a crisis. However, Millennials and Gen-Zers have a unique opportunity to think creatively in this area because of their heightened expectations of employers to give back to the community. Plus, most executives are facing advanced challenges about business continuity during this time, so supporting the social impact role will likely be appreciated. Remember, contributions don’t have to be financial. What other assets, resources or products could your company safely offer?

No matter your age group, we all have a critical role to play in getting our communities back to normalcy. Let’s all do our part to stay safe, healthy and united during this time of uncertainty.