The coronavirus pandemic has led to a silver lining of allowing employers to demonstrate empathy and heartfelt communication with employees -- boosting engagement and resiliency -- according to a study of organizations with 1,000 or more employees by the Institute for Corporate Productivity. The survey found 75% of the hundreds of companies that responded said the pandemic has positively affected the organizational culture.

Employees who remain after layoffs can feel guilt and grief, and leaders can help by highlighting their former colleagues' contributions, being transparent about the downsizing and continuing to communicate, Susan Peppercorn writes.

Employers should reevaluate their benefits package to make sure it lines up with the priorities of a post-pandemic world, writes Emily Muhoberac, chief operations officer of Sapper Consulting. Muhoberac details three benefits that will be critical for recruiting and retaining workers, including comprehensive health care and student-loan reimbursements.

New graduates starting out in the workforce should focus on a five-year plan instead of a one-year plan to learn skills that will allow for growth in each job, suggests Tony Trepanier. "Instead of asking for a fancy salary or a fancy office or something, ask for access to certain meetings or certain responsibilities -- things that would act as resume items two or three years down the line," Trepanier says.

Businesses have a responsibility to speak out against racial injustice while also creating an atmosphere at work where employees of color feel psychologically and physically safe and valued, write professors Laura Morgan Roberts and Ella Washington. They outline steps for meaningful action, including giving employees a space to voice concerns.