After a long year of battling the coronavirus, the presence of vaccines has created a way for the world to rebound from a long struggle with a pandemic that has made a lasting impact on humankind. But getting back to normal is predicted to be more difficult for industries that COVID-19 has severely impacted because of understaffing and budget cuts, which has made meeting the needs of a new onslaught of customers far more complex than anticipated.
Two industries, in particular, have recently been confronted with significant barriers to becoming fully functional as demand has suddenly surged, and meeting the needs of customers while still implementing recommended COVID-19 protocols is a new challenge that the airline and IT industries are looking to meet.
The Airline Industry is Struggling to Meet New Demands
Leisure travel is starting to return to normal pre-pandemic levels, causing a surge in flight bookings for regular trips such as spring break travel and summer vacations. Most airlines have put an end to blocking middle seats to optimize flight loads, but passengers are still facing delays, cancellations, and a lack of flight availability. Some major airlines have also experienced technical difficulties in making online bookings that brought their global travel portals to a standstill.
Operational problems are being caused by a myriad of circumstances such as flight crew shortages, supply chain issues, and an overall shortage in workers that are part of the entire travel process. Enhanced sanitation procedures and new coronavirus prevention processes also require more time and staffing, and airlines are having to navigate the rapidly changing COVID public health landscape while managing budget.
Deep Cuts in the IT Industry Are Creating Coverage Gaps
The pandemic has also severely impacted the technology sector, and budget cuts have been the primary reason behind sweeping layoffs and cutbacks in IT teams that are part of companies across major industries. Robust unemployment payouts are keeping many workers from returning to the workforce, which has been part of the rationale behind why some businesses are having trouble recruiting new hires.
Companies looking for employees to work onsite are especially struggling. Remote work is currently preferred as extended demands of family life still linger, and unknowns about vaccinations and the virus continue to make venturing outside the home a risk for workers with families. Businesses will likely have to roll out incentives or hazard pay for new hires as demand continues to spike, and companies are also hoping that international movement will bring back America’s work visa programs that were previously helpful in filling staffing needs before the pandemic.
Getting Back on Track to Meet the Post-Pandemic Boom
Airlines and IT companies must make the decision to fully staff, and this will prevent further barriers to service offerings. Staggering employment until demand increases or lost profits from 2020 are recouped is slowing growth and customers are feeling the impact. The world economy is revving its engine, and both customers and enterprises are ready to resume regular activity as soon as possible. Accelerating hiring by bringing back more furloughed employees, hiring new employees, crafting incentives, and establishing processes for COVID-19 protocols quickly is the key to getting back on track to meet the post-pandemic boom.
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Abigail Baker is a writer from Happy Writers, Co. in partnership with Advance Online, an online health and safety training provider.