Limeade CEO Henry Albrecht says companies can use the novel coronavirus pandemic to evaluate whether their company culture is serving the needs and demands of employees. Employers can reconsider communications, put more focus on employee emotional health, and look carefully at what resources individuals and teams need, Albrecht says.

Company founders ready to reopen can support employees who are reluctant to return to work by hearing out concerns while explaining how the company is reducing risk, says Peter Newell of BMNT. "If I'm afraid of something but I'm surrounded by a group of people I trust, I'm willing to put aside my fears and do something," he says.

Navigating teams through the current pandemic means focusing on the people or circumstances causing bottlenecks in productivity, author and master coach Melanie Parish writes. Parish offers tips for addressing bottlenecks, starting with identifying them and detailing the outcome you want to achieve.

More than half of Americans have decided they have to draw funds out of retirement accounts to pay for basic, daily needs, a survey by MagnifyMoney found. Among those responding, 60% said they used retirement money to pay for groceries.

Laying off an employee is emotionally difficult for both a manager and the employee, and those conducting layoffs should do so with care for the employee and for themselves, says Bryan Otte, founder and CEO of HRPlus, and formerly chief HR officer at SmartBrief. Advocating for a smart exit strategy, being genuine and vulnerable, and recognizing one's own emotional needs are all vital elements of a compassionate layoff process.