Thread by @_TheAncientOne_

It occurred to me that many people do not see or understand how SARS2 impacts productivity or productive effort. As someone who works in an Engineering role that integrates with many functions in my job, allow me to shed some light on it from my perspective. Short🧵

Feel like it's not getting done like it used to? Well, it's not. Ppl are feeling the impacts of the last 3 years - whether they acknowledge it or not. Does this sound familiar? "John is taking care of that but he's out," or "Jane was in that area, but she's been sick all week."

Loss of productivity is estimated to be costing just the US economy trillions - & getting worse. If that surprises you, it's probably because you've been told over and over (and over) that the pandemic is over.

Why would this hurt productivity? Here are a few ways that happens:

1. Focus - people who don't feel well (or as well) 1-2 times per year, or are experiencing cognitive impairment as they recover will struggle with focus to complete tasks. There are a number of studies that clearly show that acute and post-acute stage of infection causes this.

2. Time - SARS2 takes time to recover from. Acute can be a few days to weeks of recovery. Post acute (despite severity) is much longer generally. In our capitalists' society, we do not have worker redundancy, so when John or Jane are out, stuff waits on their tasks.

3. Physical Capacity - Same as focus. Acute and post-acute take their toll on you. Whether your job is to sit at a computer or roofing all day long, if you need more frequent breaks, have to move slower, or you need shorter days, then your capacity to do your job is impacted.

4. Stress - a function of all of the above. People are less productive as stress comes into play. Stress impacts decision making. It can cause problems with recovery from SARS2 or be caused by recovery. That overlap makes stress - either physical or emotional - a huge problem.

There are more, but that's the idea. This all compounds by the way. Tasks waiting on tasks in 1 big, disruptive, jam. It still all has to be worked through and done, but the merciless gears driving this machine must move forward at all costs! Until something breaks...

Obviously, this has impacts outside of work that are very unfortunate and (IMO) more important. One could find they can no longer do things they enjoy. They are isolated as they try to avoid getting sick, yet again. They are shut out, all but forgotten. I've seen it happen.

So...the next time you're frustrated a package hasn't arrived or your food order got screwed up or your coworkers are always gone or the teachers are constantly out or nobody is driving correctly, or nothing gets done...keep in mind, ppl are struggling. Stay safe.