Employer Response to the Coronavirus and Lockdown Directive Report

Introduction

Industrial Psychology Consultants (Pvt) Ltd, carried out a survey to assess the employers responses to the Corona Virus and the lockdown directive. The survey targeted employers from companies in all sectors in Zimbabwe following the recent Corona Virus outbreak led to the lockdown in Zimbabwe since the end of March 2020. The survey comprised of 139 participants representing 139 organisations from 17 sectors in Zimbabwe.

Research Findings from Elsewhere

Based on recent studies from elsewhere, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to cost increases in healthcare for employers of as much as 7%. This stresses the need for organizations to have a plan that supports employees and potential loss of revenue. As coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) forces the national closure of non-essential companies, employers have had to build strategies to deal with possible loss of revenue not only from these conditions but also from increasing healthcare benefits costs. In an actuarial analysis by Willis Towers Watson of self-financed employers, researchers noted that these benefits could rise by as much as 7 % this year from testing and treatment costs related to COVID-19.