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Published on: Apr 04, 2020
3 minute read
By: Dr Rajan Choudhary

Declaring A Pandemic — What Does This Mean ?

Its finally happened. Three months after the first case was reported in Wuhan, China, and after a 13 fold increase in cases in just two weeks, the World Health Organisation has designated COVID-19 a pandemic. This disease has resulted in over 121,500 confirmed cases across 114 nations, and 4,300 deaths, over 3,000 of them in China alone.

The WHO has shown alarm at some countries that have shown “alarming levels of inaction” and hope the new designation of pandemic will shock these nations into action. “This is not just a public health crisis, it is a crisis that will touch every sector,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, at a media briefing. “So every sector and every individual must be involved in the fights.”

Despite this new update, it is not too late for nations to act, and countries can still impact the course of the outbreak by detecting, testing, treating and isolating patient, with further education to the public and contact tracing of cases.

WHAT IS A PANDEMIC

An epidemic is an increase in the spread of a disease within a community, and can be relatively common. Sometimes a single disease may spread rapidly in a small, unprepared community creating an epidemic. This is happening more often with the prevalence of the anti-vaxx movement, as immunity falters against preventable diseases like measles.

A pandemic on the other hand is the global outbreak of a serious new illness that is “sustainably transmitted throughout the world”. It is not a descriptor that is used lightly, as declaring a pandemic could “cause unreasonable fear, or unjustified acceptance that the fight is over,” if used incorrectly. There has been much discussion whether the declaration of N1N1 “swine flu” as a pandemic caused unnecessary panic, overwhelmed emergency services or caused excessive expenditure on antiviral medication.

Though they were concerned by the spread of the disease and came close by labelling it a “pandemic potential”, the WHO were reluctant to declare it one. Unfortunately, after 2 months of assessing the outbreak, members of the WHO were concerned “both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction.” There is no threshold, number of deaths, number of countries affected.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE COUNTRIES?

According to the World Bank, the annual global cost of a severe pandemic is around $570 billion, or 0.7% of the entire world’s income. This estimation is realised as more people stay at home and more authoritative measures are enforced by governments. At this time, Italy has not put in place nationwide quarantine with further closure of almost all shops and services bar food shops and chemists.

The UK is expected to move from the “containment” phase of the outbreak, aimed at halting the spread of the disease”, to “delay”. This instead accepts the disease cannot be contained, and instead looks to slow its progression. Measures such as “social distancing”, isolation of those showing minor viral symptoms and cancellation of social events. To prepare for the UK epidemic a £30bn package has been prepared to boost the economy during the COVID outbreak.

India has suspended all tourist visas and e-visas until April 15ht as a pandemic is declared. All incoming travellers including Indian nationals will be quarantined for a minimum of 14 days if they have visited China, Italy, Iran, Korea, France, Spain and Germany after 15ht February. Advice has also been given to avoid all non-essential travel abroad.

South Korea has ramped up testing, performing around 4,000 tests per million people between 3rd January and 11th March. In comparison to 1,000 per million in Italy, 400 per million in the UK and only 28 in the UK. This has been due to differences in government responses, the severity of outbreaks in each country and the nature of the healthcare system in each country.

The steady decrease in new coronavirus cases in South Korea has been attributed to this mass testing, improved public communications and the use of new technology to aid diagnosis and management. Interestingly it has been achieved without the drastic quarantine procedures in place in China and Italy.

WHAT SHOULD I DO

Washing your hands has been emphasised by almost all public health agencies and governments. And you should continue to follow this advice. Soap and water is one of the most effective ways to destroy the virus on your hands, and helps prevent its spread.

It is also important to avoid panic, and to not hoard soap, food and toilet roll. Do not trust forwards on WhatsApp or treatment advice suggested, as these can be ineffective or even dangerous. Recently 27 people died from alcohol poisoning after a myth was spread stating strong alcohol could cure coronavirus.

Similarly be wary of false cures being sold online or by un reputable stores. Currently there is no cure for COVID, and supportive treatment is required for those who fall extremely ill.

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should self-isolate and notify your local health authorities. Symptoms include fever, cough, sneezing, general lethargy and joint pain, symptoms similar to the flu.

If you have confirmed COVID and have been asked to quarantine yourself, PLEASE STAY INDOORS. There have been instances of infected people continuing to partake in everyday activities, resulting in the spread of the infection, sometimes to vulnerable children and the elderly.

Dr Rajan Choudhary, Product Head, Second Medic Inc, UK

www.secondmedic.com

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Employee Wall of Fame: Celebrating Uniqueness to Build a Positive Workplace Culture

In today’s evolving workplaces, employee engagement is no longer driven solely by compensation or job titles. People seek recognition, inclusion and a sense of belonging. One of the most effective yet simple ways to achieve this is through an Employee Wall of Fame. By celebrating individuality and contribution, organisations can create a culture where employees feel seen, valued and motivated.

Recognition is not a luxury. It is a fundamental driver of organisational wellbeing and performance.

Why Recognition Matters in the Workplace

Recognition fulfills a basic human need: appreciation.

When employees feel recognised:

morale improves
motivation increases
loyalty strengthens
burnout reduces

According to global workplace studies, lack of recognition is one of the top reasons for employee disengagement.

What Is an Employee Wall of Fame?

An Employee Wall of Fame is a physical or digital space dedicated to highlighting employees for their achievements, values, creativity or unique strengths.

It may showcase:

professional accomplishments
teamwork contributions
innovation and problem-solving
leadership qualities
personal milestones

The focus is not competition, but appreciation.

Celebrating Uniqueness, Not Just Performance

Traditional recognition often focuses only on targets or numbers.

A Wall of Fame expands recognition to include:

collaboration
consistency
empathy
creativity
positive attitude

This approach ensures diverse strengths are valued.

Psychological Impact of Workplace Recognition

Recognition positively affects mental health.

Benefits include:

improved self-esteem
reduced stress
increased sense of purpose
stronger emotional connection to work

WHO recognises psychosocial wellbeing as a key component of healthy workplaces.

Inclusion and Belonging Through Recognition

Celebrating uniqueness supports inclusion.

It helps:

recognise diverse backgrounds
reduce bias
promote equal visibility

When employees see people like themselves being appreciated, trust and belonging grow.

Employee Wall of Fame as a Culture-Building Tool

Culture is shaped by what organisations choose to celebrate.

A visible Wall of Fame:

reinforces company values
sets behavioural standards
inspires others

It becomes a living reflection of organisational culture.

Types of Recognition on a Wall of Fame

Achievement-Based Recognition

For milestones, project success or innovation.

Value-Based Recognition

For demonstrating company values such as integrity or teamwork.

Peer Recognition

Employees nominate colleagues, increasing engagement.

Personal Growth Recognition

Celebrating learning, upskilling or personal achievements.

How an Employee Wall of Fame Improves Engagement

Engaged employees:

perform better
collaborate more
stay longer

EY-FICCI workplace studies show recognition-driven programs significantly improve engagement scores.

Impact on Productivity and Performance

Recognition creates positive reinforcement.

Employees who feel valued:

take ownership of work
show initiative
maintain consistency

Appreciation fuels sustained performance.

Supporting Mental Wellbeing at Work

Recognition reduces workplace stress by:

validating effort
reducing feelings of invisibility
encouraging positive feedback loops

Mental wellbeing improves when employees feel respected and acknowledged.

How to Design an Effective Employee Wall of Fame

Key principles include:

inclusivity
transparency
fairness
consistency

Clear criteria prevent bias and ensure credibility.

Physical vs Digital Wall of Fame

Physical Wall

Creates visual impact in office spaces.

Digital Wall

Ideal for remote or hybrid teams.

Both formats can coexist for maximum reach.

Frequency of Updates Matters

Stale recognition loses impact.

Best practices include:

monthly highlights
quarterly rotations
special occasion features

Fresh content sustains enthusiasm.

Role of Leadership in Recognition

Leadership participation strengthens impact.

When leaders:

nominate employees
share appreciation publicly

recognition becomes part of organisational identity.

Employee Participation and Ownership

Encouraging peer nominations:

increases engagement
reduces hierarchy
builds mutual respect

Recognition becomes a shared responsibility.

Measuring the Impact of Recognition Initiatives

Impact can be assessed through:

engagement surveys
retention metrics
feedback forms
participation rates

Data-driven insights help refine programs.

Long-Term Benefits of Celebrating Uniqueness

Over time, organisations experience:

stronger culture
higher retention
improved employer branding
healthier workplace relationships

Recognition is a long-term investment, not a one-time activity.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid:

recognising only top performers
favouritism
lack of transparency
irregular updates

Consistency and fairness are essential.

Employee Wall of Fame as Part of Holistic Wellness

Recognition complements:

mental health initiatives
team-building programs
wellness activities

A supportive culture enhances overall wellbeing.

Conclusion

An Employee Wall of Fame is more than a display—it is a statement of values. By celebrating uniqueness and recognising diverse contributions, organisations create workplaces where people feel valued, motivated and connected. In an era where employee wellbeing and engagement define success, recognition-driven initiatives like a Wall of Fame play a vital role in building resilient, inclusive and high-performing teams. Celebrating people is not just good culture—it is good leadership.

References

World Health Organization (WHO) – Workplace Mental Health and Wellbeing
EY-FICCI – Employee Engagement and Workplace Culture Reports
NITI Aayog – Future of Work and Organisational Wellbeing Studies
Lancet – Psychosocial Work Environment Research
Statista – Global Employee Engagement and Recognition Trends

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