Workforce Pandemic - Fear

I follow several industry and economics publications and just read a particularly interesting one,
The Geography Of A Recession, a time lapse unemployment visualization from the start of the current recession until this fall.

I have been facilitating a support group for the unemployed / under employed for approx the last 18 months and have seen the incredible human cost of this economic melt-down.

Many claim they saw the handwriting on the wall, but felt powerless to change the outcome.  Others say they did not fee they could do anything about the conditions (that ultimately led to them losing their jobs) because of fear.

As the visualization shows, fear of job loss is today a huge factor affecting how people think and act,  but it is not the only fear that's invading the workplace. 

Among the more commonly observed reasons why people don't step our of the shadows and take bold actions/positions include:

• Fear of retribution (personal)
• Fear of getting someone in trouble
• Fear of failure
• Fear of losing position or status
• Fear of being seen as disloyal
• Fear of making mistaken
• Fear of antagonizing colleagues
• Fear of being seen as troublemaker

Yet, there has never been a better time for employees to step up and propose new ideas and strategies.  Here's what employers need to do:

1. Specifically request feedback, criticism, ideas, recommendations
2. Make it important
3. Make feedback a organization priority
4. Reward those who participate
5. Open the door to feedback

Thus creating a "vaccine" to help keep this pandemic in check.