Call
+918447748545

Published on: May 15, 2020
4 minute read
By: Dr Rajan Choudhary

Living With COVID And Returning To BAU!

Hurdles to Business As Usual – Hurdles to Life as Usual – Living with COVID!

Obstacles to re-open the country

As we come to the 2-month mark of lockdown, its effect on the populous is becoming apparent. The extreme restrictions have had a significant impact on people’s physical health, mental health, and general livelihood, and many people are itching for life to get back to normal. Many countries including New Zealand, Germany, Italy, and Spain have seen the first peak of COVID infections pass, and some have already begun reopening parts of their economy. This has led to concerns from public health officials that relaxing the lockdown too early and too liberally will lead to a rapid increase in infection rates. Indeed, Germany has already seen an increase in R0 above 1 (one infected person will infect more than one person, causing the disease to propagate).

Trying to work out how to reopen a country without causing another spike in COVID deaths is probably the biggest issue faced by public health officials across the world. And trying to convey clear instructions to the public is an issue some countries are currently struggling with. In the next few blogs we will look at the issues faced, what has worked and what needs improvement, and what we as the public can do to keep ourselves safe.

THE MASKS WE WEAR

We have discussed masks at the start of the pandemic, and we have discussed masks as the pandemic has progressed. Why are we bringing it up again?

Masks have been a heated point of contention, but their role in public health has matured over the past few weeks. At the beginning of the pandemic, masks were a rare commodity, with DIY stores running dry of masks, stories of people stealing masks from clinical environments, and very confusing advice on whether the public should wear masks in public.

At that time the WHO had recommended only infected patients and those working with infected people wear masks, to save on the precious PPE for medical professionals. N95 respirators are seen as the gold standard in protective equipment, and hospitals are still struggling to provide staff with enough respirators, let alone the public. Concerns have also been raised on whether using masks will provide a false sense of security, especially if they stop washing hands or touch the infected parts of the masks.

But now we are past the first COVID peak, and advice on masks has changed. People should wear a mask if they are in public. Germany has implemented this advice, as has Austria for its public markets. In the US many stores are requesting public wear masks before entry. Rather than surgical masks or respirators, the use of homemade or purchased cotton masks has been encouraged.

LET’S LOOK AT WHY

Surgical masks and respirators aim to protect the user from inhaling microscopic aerosolized COVID particles. Cotton masks do not function this way. Instead, they prevent the wearer from spreading COVID by catching much larger droplets that is coughed/sneezed or generally breathed out.

The majority of people with COVID-19 are able to spread the infection to others up to 3 days before they show symptoms. Indeed as many as 50% of infections seem to occur from pre-symptomatic individuals. During this time they produce the greatest amount of viral particles, and these particles can stay in the air for several hours. Someone with asymptomatic COVID walking around in public or in a shop could infect lots of people.

So wearing a mask, even if you are not symptomatic or around infected patients helps prevent the spread of the infection. We know already just how infective COVID-19 is, so any measures that reduces infection even a little will end up reducing spread drastically on a population level. It has been compared to seatbelts – one person might not feel the benefits, but they save thousands of lives across the country on a yearly basis.

IS THERE ANY EVIDENCE?

In our blogs, we often talk about the importance of evidence. We look at the quality of evidence, how different types of research gives good and bad evidence, and why we should always give evidence-based advice.

So is there any evidence supporting masks? We have evidence that cloth masks can stop 99% of droplets that are coughed up, and whilst it doesn’t block aerosols or actual viral particles it still has a significant impact on transmission. We also have strong evidence from high infectivity in choir groups and at call centers that the majority of transmission is via the air, rather than from surfaces.

But what about the highest level of evidence? Comparing people who do or don’t wear masks is not a study that can be easily performed or one that has been performed adequately. But why should you wait? There is minimal to no risk associated with wearing a cloth mask, it offers some protection to you and a lot of protection to the public. In these cases, we should take a precautionary approach.

We don’t have any high-quality evidence looking at hand washing or physical distancing. But precautionary measures enforced have helped reduce infectivity. The same applies to masks. The best we can offer is an Australian study looking at mask use during influenza. They found observational data suggest that transmission of viral respiratory infection was significantly reduced during the SARS epidemic with the use of face masks as well as other infection control measures” and “in an adjusted analysis of compliant subjects, masks as a group had protective efficacy in excess of 80% against clinical influenza-like illness.”. In compliant users, masks were highly efficacious.

So that’s our advice. If you're going to go out in public, wear a mask.

If you don’t have a mask, you can order one online. Or be adventurous. Make one out of an old T-shirt or sock. Here are some ways to make one without needing to sew.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/11/make-non-medical-coronavirus-face-mask-no-sewing-required masks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r51YroAFPds DIY Face Mask

MORE INFORMATION

https://www.fast.ai/2020/04/20/skeptics-masks/#mightnt-people-handle-their-masks-wrong-and-make-things-worse Masks - FAQ

https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m1435 face masks for the public

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30918-1/fulltext wearing face masks in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic: altruism and solidarity

https://twitter.com/trishgreenhalgh/status/1253244613927874560 twitter trisha

Dr Rajan Choudhary, UK, Chief Product Officer, Second Medic Inc

www.secondmedic.com

Read Blog

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

Request A Callback

+91

By using this website/app, I confirm that I am at least 18 years old and consent to the processing of my personal data in accordance with the Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Declaration.