Personal behaviour has changed under lockdown. Now companies are paying attention too

There is certainly anecdotal evidence that people are trying to work more cooperatively. Some of the kindnesses and courtesies will surely stick, believes Hamish McRae

How will the City – and businesses in general – behave in the wake of this pandemic? (Reuters)

A new Gallup poll reports that Americans are less worried and happier than they were at the end of March. In Britain the Mental Health Foundation reports that 72 per cent of workers believe that we should become kinder as a society.

At a personal level these two surveys surely square with most of our experiences in the past few weeks thanks to coronavirus. The disruptions and annoyances caused by lockdown contrast with the small courtesies we now extend to each other. Even if it’s simply smiling as people step off the pavement to give each other a bit more space, or thanking the local shopkeeper for keeping going through all this.

But this is not only personal thing. It is an economic one too. How companies have behaved will be remembered. Those that have sought to do the right thing, for example by keeping as many employees on the books as they can or by keeping services going despite all the pressures on them, will benefit. Those that haven’t – well, they should not expect much loyalty from their customers and workforce in the months ahead.