The world of work is considered a running world because of the internal and external factors drivers

that may be the first affecting it. Some of the internal factors may be new structures and policies
implemented, new department developed, new board of directors etc… which can be also
considered change factors within an organization, while on the other hand, the external factors are
the most effecting driver to a company’s behavior and work place in general. STEEP or PESTLE
frameworks are usually used to evaluate the external factors that may impact on the decision
making. It is a combination of sociological, political, economic, environmental, and technological
factors. First of all, social or sociological factors which include age, race, gender etc.., these may
affect the demand of a special product or service which at the end can influence a business strategy
such as changes in the consumer market. Secondly, technological factors or drivers such as R&D
(research and development) which can be an advantage or disadvantage while companies now use
robots to accomplish a good quality work in the shortest time possible instead of recruiting ten
employees to perform the same task and take one week to be done, here the disadvantage can be
where the unemployment rates will exceed which can lead to immigration. It also includes
communication (via telephone or applications), transportation (motorcycles, cars, bicycles…), and
innovation. Economic factors may also affect the world of work, since it plays a good role in decision
making, especially financial ones. For example, in Lebanon our Lebanese Lira used to be paid at
1,500 rate per 1$ for almost thirty years, unfortunately, we are now paying 20,000 LBP and even
25,000 LBP per 1$ which may vary within hours. Here, exchange rate can affect profits for local
companies, yet it can be a good advantage to businesses who operate internationally. It also
includes taxes, savings, inflation, interest rates etc… Another external factor is the environmental,
where pollution, environmental regulations, whether etc… are included. For example, in winter, high
points face change in climate especially for people living in mountains, where roads can be closed
because of snow and employees cannot reach work… finally, political factors such as labor law, tax
policy, environmental law. Political factors may also include good and services that the government
does provide and does not want to be provided to people, such as marijuana, a kind of drug, that
many people and hospitals may be in need to but the government does not want to provide
because it may lead to addiction.

Related theories

Living in Lebanon nowadays is seen very hard now to people as they are now facing all kinds of
external factors; first, in 2019 Lebanon faced a big revolution where people were protesting against
proposed taxes in all over the country and demanding for their basic rights such as employment,
insurance etc. which has led to roads closures, conflicts between parties. By here, the Lebanese Lira
rate started by increasing from 1,500 per 1$ till 2000 and 5000 without any supervision. Then the
banks began seizing depositors’ money which by then, led to bankruptcy of many companies in the
private sector and immigration of the majority of the new generation. When the Lebanese
population started to adapt to the bad economic situation the country was passing through, COVID
19 came and spreaded in the world, where Lebanon was in total lockdown, no one could ever be
walking in the streets unless for a top urgent reason or having a permit card.

Chapter 3 Promedic

For example, Promedic, a company that provides medical and hospital supplies, has started a new
work trend because its teams are almost entirely made up of Engineers and Lab technicians who are
always at risk, the company was completely closed during the lockdown and all employees were
working remotely, front office employees were prohibited from entering the company's premises
because they were given face shields, face masks, and overalls to wear in laboratories or hospitals.
Every 14 days, the company pays all its employees the PCR test, there were no lunch or coffee
breaks due to the social distancing restrictions, meetings were held online, and the company was
sterilized every week.

RSM Lebanon, a firm specializing in audit, tax, and legal advisory managed to transfer their work to
home when the government called for quarantine due to covid-19 most of its employees were
facing problems with their work time as it’s difficult to schedule the daily working hours at home, so
their manager created a daily report sheet which every employee should fill, back or front office.
And finally, there are some issues that couldn’t be fixed as it was harder to create team spirit and
relationships between colleagues. As well as maintaining confidentiality, so by working at home,
they made phone calls and meetings in front of their parents or family members at home which is
considered a public place for employers.

Food & Drug Corporation S.A.L. is Lebanon's largest FMCG and pharmaceutical importer, marketer,
and distributor. Since the government announced a lockdown for nearly three months in 2020,
there have been some restrictions for special cases such as food companies, hospitals, and any
company that is concerned with daily essential customer needs as they scheduled working days
based on the number of employees who could be available due to transportation restrictions and
social distancing. They have distributed face masks, sanitizer, and full payment for the PCR test
every two weeks to all of their employees. They also get paid off from work if any of their
employees become infected by the virus, as well as the necessary medicines. They were very
worried about having a positive test without any side effects because they were able to spread the
infection to their families at home, and they were aware that the daily number of people dying due
to COVID-19 is increasing.
Advanced Construction Technology Services (ACTS) is a regional leader in construction
consulting services, specializing in materials and geoengineering. This company closed its doors
during the pandemic, leaving employees at home for three months without pay, and managers
couldn't figure out how to deal with such a situation because it was difficult for employees to
transfer their work to where they lived, increasing their stress levels. Furthermore, because
they are always available, they will be responding to emails and performing tasks late at night.
They held a special meeting for all employees before closing to discuss the disadvantages of
remote work in the company because it will increase its costs to afford laptops and special
equipment, especially with the exchange rate between dollars and the local currency, and the
difficulty in scheduling meetings and coordinating projects in the case of a bad internet
connection, which is a major problem in Lebanon. Finally, it can be difficult for employers to
monitor and control their employees' attendance and schedules.

Many studies say that working from home is moving work stress to the place we live in, so our
home will be full stress and problems, adding that working from home doesn’t have any
schedule and employees have to reply on emails and perform tasks late at night since they are
always available. Fewer networking opportunities for employees etc… the disadvantages of
remote work on companies may be added cost, since companies must provide employees with
materials like laptops and printers, difficulty in scheduling meetings and coordinating projects in
case of a bad internet connection which is a major problem in Lebanon. Employers can find it
difficult monitoring and controlling employees’ attendance and schedules.

Conclusion and recommendations

In conclusion, a research made in 2015 identifies the key trends that continue to be relevant till
today’s date which include the utilization of technology, where everything now is depending on
technology at work and even in education, as nowadays we’re all connected online, in addition
to workforce diversity and diversity of employment relationship, which is important to accept
and include employees from different backgrounds and even cultures for example, because of
technology and remote work, companies in Beirut can recruit people from Bekaa to work with
since they will be more comfortable to work from home instead of coming all the way to the
company; a greater pool of potential talent (no geographic limitations). Flexibility, managers
now are more flexible with employees than ever since their children now are studying online
and after schools are expensive compared to their income, they can now benefit from working
from home or working remotely to stay at home. Employees can customize their working setup,
less costs on the company (electricity, parking…), and less office interruptions that may
maximize employees’ productivity.

Further research is therefore needed to understand its long-term impact on individuals’ mental
health. Lebanon has recently faced one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history. Beirut
blast that occurred on 4 August 2020 killed 220 people and left more than 6,500 injured and
some 300,000 homeless. We believe that the effects of COVID-19 on the mental well-being of
Lebanese would interact with those of the blast.

With the advent of the 2019 revolution, several dimensions of the Lebanese system (i.e.
political, economic, etc.). have been challenged in unprecedented ways. However, the essential
role that mental health plays in leading to social and political change cannot be ignored.
Reforming mental health infrastructure eases suffering and allows communities to thrive by
equipping them to make economic, political, and social choices that prioritize their own
welfare. In the Lebanese context, COVID-19 has posed new challenges to humanity and to
people’s quality of life, in addition to the Beirut blast that occurred on 4 August, 2020 killed 220
people and left more than 6,500 injured and some 300,000 homeless. We believe that the
effects of COVID-19 on the mental well-being of Lebanese would interact with those of the
blast. Ensuring a healthy, collective mental health is and will remain essential in furthering the
goals of the revolution in every facet of life and establishing a functioning and just State.

Coping with Stress

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major effect on our lives. Many of us are facing challenges that can
be stressful and overwhelming. Learning to cope with stress in a healthy way will help you, the people
you care about, and those around you become more resilient.

Stress can cause the following:

 Feelings of fear, anger, sadness, worry, numbness, or frustration

 Changes in appetite, energy, desires, and interests
 Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
 Nightmares or problems sleeping
 Physical reactions, such as headaches, body pains, stomach problems, or skin rashes
 Worsening of chronic health problems and mental health conditions
 Increased use of alcohol, illegal drugs (like heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine), and misuse of
prescription drugs (like opioids)

It’s natural to feel stress, anxiety, grief, and worry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Below are ways that
you can help yourself, others, and your community manage stress.
  Take breaks from news stories, including those on social media. It’s good to be informed, but
constant information about the pandemic can be upsetting. Consider limiting news to just a
couple times a day and disconnecting from phone, tv, and computer screens for a while.
 Take care of your body:
o Get vaccinated and stay up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines.
o Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, and fat–free or low–fat
milk and milk products. Eating well also means limiting saturated fats, cholesterol, salt,
and added sugars.
o Going to bed at the same time each night and getting up at the same time each
morning, including on the weekends, can help you sleep better (seven or more hours
per night for adults).
o Move more and sit less-every little bit of physical activity helps. You can start small and
build up to 150 minutes a week that can be broken down to smaller amounts such as 20
to 30 minutes a day.
o Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditateexternal icon.
o Limit alcohol intake. Choose not to drink, or drink in moderation by limiting
consumption to one drink a day for women—two for men—on days that alcohol is
consumed.
o Avoid using prescription drugs in ways other than prescribed, someone else’s
prescription, or illegal drugs. Treatmentexternal icon is available and recovery starts
with asking for helpexternal icon.
o Avoid smoking and the use of other tobacco products. People can and do quit
smoking for good.
o Continue with regular health appointments, testing, and screening.
 Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.
 Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.
 Connect with your community- or faith-based organizations. While social distancing measures
are in place, try connecting online, through social media, or by phone or mail.

https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/stress-coping/cope-with-stress/index.html
Take breaks from news in social media platforms.

The employee should take breaks from news stories, including those on social media. It's important to
be informed, but constant updates on the pandemic can be distressing. Consider limiting your news
consumption to a couple of times per day and disconnecting from your phone, television, and computer
screens for a while.

Remove Obstacles and Clarify Priorities

Begin by identifying any potential barriers to productivity and removing those that have the greatest
impact on stress. Then, concentrate on eliminating office distractions and providing any resources your
employees may require to be successful. Go a step further and schedule regular meetings with your
employees to provide them with clear direction on what is most important and what can wait until next
week.

Develop and Grow Employee Skills and Strengths

Your employees have a lot to offer. Spend time learning about your employees' strengths and personal
objectives for contributing to the organization. Making certain that each employee can capitalize on
their strengths will help maximize both their individual happiness and the overall team potential. Allow
employees to expand their skill sets through job shadowing, mentoring, or professional development.

Improve team relationships.

When you don't like, get along with, trust, or respect the people you work with every day, stress levels
can skyrocket. Anxiety, misalignment, distractions, distrust, and jealousy can all result from poor
relationships with teammates. Managers can help their teams develop better relationships by
encouraging honesty and integrity. Try connecting online, through social media, or by phone or mail
while social distancing measures are in place.

Improve work environments.

The World Health Organization defines health as a positive state of total physical, mental, and social
well-being. This means that a healthy working environment is one that is not only free of harmful
conditions, but also abundant in health-promoting ones. Employees can become stressed when their
work environment encourages unhealthy behaviors such as poor eating habits, insufficient or infrequent
breaks, or a lack of work-life balance. A healthy workplace will encourage and support healthy employee
habits.

Availability to do activities during the work.

Managers should look forward to improving a healthier life for their employees because mentally the
employee is stressed due to all of the bad conditions he is facing. This can be accomplished by managing
the time at work for employees to take a deep breath of fresh air or do some exercises for a few
minutes will help the employee to perform better in the company