Diego Ruiz Duran as well as anyone could not have anticipated the ongoing global effects of COVID-19 or the trickle-down effect it would have on the workforce. The pandemic has stunted the world in many ways – from mass layoffs to record evictions and foreclosures. When the pandemic hit, nothing could have prepared those affected most for what was to come and the long-lasting issues that will continue even when the world goes back to normal.
More people are finding themselves unemployed daily with no immediate options available. The United Nations estimates that approximately 150 million people are unemployed globally. With social distancing being one of the main suggestions for slowing the spread of the pandemic, so many of the things we used to do pose health threats to us and those around us. Vital industries like hospitality, dining, and entertainment have taken an especially hard hit due to the pandemic. We saw a hopeful turnaround for the restaurant industry during the warmer months as outdoor dining was a safer option. In areas of the world where it turned colder, the issue only took many in these industries to the beginning of the pandemic, with magnified financial hardship.
Diego Ruiz Duran, Senior Law Partner & Founder at Law Offices of Diego Ruiz Durán in Mexico City, found a way to help. By offering more pro-bono work and saying yes to people in need, he was able to use his area of expertise for the greater good. This is just one example of how many people are finding better ways to use their work to help others in an extreme time of need. He believes there are numerous ways people can come together as a community to add value during these unprecedented times.
Even people who are still employed are struggling to either make ends meet or simply keep their sanity. This has not only become an unemployment crisis, or public health crisis, but a mental health crisis. Some feel like their lives are on hold, while others are finding ways to not only focus on their area of work to help others, but use their passions to create solutions for people who cannot help themselves right now.
There are ways to find purpose right now in helping others. Consider these options:
- Put together care packages for essential goods – groceries, personal hygiene products, blankets, tents
- Volunteer time with organizations in a local area – food banks, homeless shelters committed to make sure no one is sleeping outside in frigid temperatures
- Donate – either directly to an organization that is helping those in need, or crowdsource a fundraiser to help individuals or families in need
The pandemic has shown it will be around for a while. The least we can do as a population is find purpose in helping those who need help immediately, whether it be honing the skills we already have to offer or finding new ways to lend a hand.
