Crane's Corner: 7-8-21 Post Pandemic Stress Syndrome

Crane's Corner

Yogi Berra was talking baseball when he uttered his famous “It ain’t over till it’s over” line, but he might as well have been talking about the pandemic. Less than half the U-S adult population has been vaccinated against Co Vid 19, the rate stands adjust under 48 percent, but for most of us, it seems like Co Vid’s in the rear view mirror.

Or is it? Virulent new strains are allowing a Co Vid comeback, and in conservative states like Utah in the west and Mississippi in the south are seeing a sharp increase in Co Vid infections. Infectious disease experts say for now, the variants showing up in the U-S aren’t penetrating the protection shield offered by the vaccines, but then again, the experts haven’t dealt with anything quite like Co Vid 19--so what’s their expertise based on. Pfizer, seems to be hedging its bets, asking the FDA for approval of a Co Vid vaccine booster shot, for use as early as next month. Uh Oh. To quote Yogi---it’s deja vu all over again.

This news may send folks driven nearly insane by the lockdowns, isolation and fear of getting sick...right over the edge, while drawing a smug I told ya so smirk from those are convinced the vaccine will make them grow a 5th limb, make their grandchildren sterile or wake up some morning with a terrifying urge to vote for a democrat.

In California, the vaccine message has been so effective, officials have given the green light to get all the ferrets at zoos in San Francisco and L-A vaccinated, so now real weasels can join the human variety in giving the flight attendants an earful about having to wear a mask when flying Southwest. 15 months after fear of something worse than Co Vid---Co Vid lawsuits compelled corporate America to trade the cube farm for a home office, now home spoiled workers are being called back to the office--and many are close to soiling themselves at the very thought. One survey found 40 percent of companies aren’t just inviting employees back to the office--they’re demanding they come back or face termination. Others like banking giant Citigroup are trying the carrot instead of the stick, allowing hybrid arrangements that give employees a few days at home each week until they gradually re-adapt to office business as usual.

The Washington Post reports a kind of reverse institutional syndrome has taken shape for some workers, like paroled inmates who can’t adjust to freedom and rob a bank to go back to three hots and a cot, life at home has made going back to an office down right scary. They find their space has been downsized, managers are scrutinizing return performance and animosity develops between the vaccinated and those who refused the shot. Some workers have simply quit then go back to the daily commute and 9-5 drudgery Others, spoiled by the fun of taking a zoom meeting in their flannel lounge pants and furry slippers are redefining business casual and not for the better.

Post Pandemic Stress Syndrome. You might say it’s going viral.