Final Paper Rough Draft

Ethical Leadership and Workplace Transformation Post-COVID-19 Student’s name Department: University Course: Course Code Instructor’s name Date Ethical Leadership and Workplace Transformation Post-COVID-19 COVID-19 has made a fundamental change in the world of work, thrusting organizations into many issues. The impacts here range from job layoffs and furloughs to an increased trend of remote work and bearing the brunt of pandemic adversities by frontline workers. It has also made leaders in various capacities to come up with ways in which they and their organizations can adapt accordingly to the rather permanent changes in its aftermath. These, therefore, need to be addressed concerning the ethical implications, long-term effects, and possible strategies from a leadership point of view. Layoffs and Furloughs This pandemic has hurled economies into recession, where most firms have had to proceed with layoffs or furloughs. Ethically, therefore, decisions on such layoffs and furloughs question whether they are fair, responsible, and involve the due care that an employer owes to his employees. From a leadership point of view, such decisions would have to be made transparently and humanely. A clear communication of the causes for the decision to lay off, support through the provision of severance packages, and resource support in the form of mental health and job placement services should be communicated. Over the long term, this may hamper the organizational reputation and subsequently reduce employee morale. To avoid this, the leaders should think of a mechanism to maintain the relationship of furloughed employees and rehiring staff laid off as and when the situation allows. As a leader in a business organization, I would ensure that I embrace a cyclic hiring process that ensures the furloughed staff do not bear the brunt of fulltime joblessness. Also by them being at wo...