It is likely that managers will have an employee tell you they have tested positive for Covid-19. Not only does the moment call for sensitivity and humanity, but it also requires you to act quickly as a manager. First, express sympathy. Ask the employee which other employees they have been in close contact with. Connect with your HR partner for guidance and inform those close contacts by phone or video if possible. While your employees will likely have questions, don’t speculate. Encourage them to talk to their doctor. Respect the confidentiality of the employee who tested positive, as well as the close contacts. And encourage senior leaders to check in with any affected employees — it is a gesture that will be universally appreciated.
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All leaders are trying to find their footing right now. You are probably shoring up your business plan, situating your team, and juggling your own constellation of remote working arrangements — possibly alongside your spouse and children. On top of that, you will face a test you probably couldn’t have imagined a few weeks ago: When one of your employees tells you they have tested positive for Covid-19. If you haven’t dealt with that already, you almost certainly will.