COVID-19 Digest: April 29

COVID-19 Digest: April 29

April 29, 2020 • Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes

COVID-19 Digest

Wednesday, April 29, 2020A quick note from Julie: We have really enjoyed writing this digest, and want to thank you all for reading it. We especially want to thank those of you who have written to us — we read all of your emails. When we started our COVID-19 Digest, I didn’t realize how much it would feel like an actual conversation among our community, and we’re all grateful. To that end, we want to ask you what you’d like to see more of (or less of!) in future editions. We plan to have more on office opening plans in the near future. Beyond that, what else? Let us know!Please share this with your networks and encourage your colleagues to sign up here. Tech:NYC’s resource guide includes information on government resources for businesses, new health tracking and treatment tools, and a new section with return-to-office preparedness plans and resources. It will be updated regularly.

The Latest in New York

The latest: Tech job market resources from us and AlleyCorp; House Dems to propose state & local government aid; recruiting and career advice. Confirmed Cases: 

  • New York State: 299,691 (+4,585)

  • New York City: 164,841 (+2,503)

  • Statewide Fatalities: 18,015 (+330)

General Updates:

  • After a month of stripped-down subway service, the MTA is reinstating several lines beginning today, as workers return to the job after being out sick and quarantined. (THE CITY) 

  • The state is testing 30,000 people per day. Preliminary results of a special antibody survey found that 17.1 percent of FDNY/EMT and 10.5 percent NYPD had been exposed to the disease. (Bloomberg Law) The city is conducting antibody tests for 150,000 healthcare workers and first responders. (POLITICO)

  • Gov. Cuomo will sign an executive order allowing elective surgeries to resume in some Upstate counties. At least 30 percent of hospital and ICU beds must still be reserved for COVID patients. (NY State of Politics) 

  • Military personnel will help frontline workers in NYC cope with trauma and “combat stress” related to the coronavirus pandemic. (CBS New York)

  • The FDA plans to allow emergency use of the drug remdesivir after a trial demonstrated shortened recovery times for some coronavirus patients. Gilead Sciences, which developed the drug, stated the drug has “not yet been demonstrated to be safe or effective for the treatment of Covid-19,” but that evidence for its efficacy is growing. (New York Times)

Request: Students all over have lost planned summer job and internship opportunities due to the pandemic, and the Princeton Entrepreneurship Club is looking to help. If your company has an opportunity for an undergrad, please share it here or take a look at the group’s resume book here.

Survey

Yesterday's results: When it’s safe to go back to your office, how will your remote work preferences change? 

  • 71.0%: I’ll work from home more.

  • 21.3%: I’ll work from home about the same as I did before.

  • 7.7%: I’ll return to the office and work from home less.

Today’s poll: More than half of Americans say they or someone close to them has been financially impacted by COVID-19. With increasing numbers of layoffs and drastic changes to workplace norms, many are reevaluating their career outlook and job preferences. What is your assessment of your current job status?

  • *|SURVEY: I intend to stay in my current role.|*

  • *|SURVEY: I have a current role, but am exploring future opportunities.|*

  • *|SURVEY: I am currently unemployed.|*

If you have a question you’d like to ask the broader community in this newsletter, send us your ideas and we’ll try to include them!

What You Need to Know

Tech Hiring:

Today Tech:NYC and AlleyCorp are excited to team up to launch the NYC Tech Talent and Opportunities board. This is the first centralized resource built specifically for the NYC tech ecosystem, gathering both top-tier tech talent looking for new opportunities and open roles at NYC tech companies.

  • Here’s how to participate: We are working with companies and individuals directly, and there are specific directions for each:

    • If you are a company with a list of available talent, please reach out here.

    • If you are a company with open roles, please link them here (or in the "Submissions" tab).

    • If you are an individual who would like to be added, please link your info here (or in the "Submissions" tab). 

    • With any other questions on how to participate in this board's development or circulation, please reach out here.

  • For founding/early teams: We are especially interested in helping early stage ventures build their teams and gain velocity. These jobs are often hard to find and learn about, so the board includes a dedicated "Open Roles: Founding/Early Teams" section. If you fit into this category and are looking for talent in these critical first roles, we encourage you to submit your info or reach out here.

  • Note: You must be either a NYC-based tech employee or NYC-based tech company to participate. The board will be refreshed every 24 hours.

Here’s why a resource like this is important right now:

  • New research released this week by Tech:NYC and the Center for an Urban Future found that, while layoffs in the sector are not yet widespread, more are sure to come. Dramatic declines in sales and delays in future fundraising rounds are forcing wrenching workforce decisions in order to preserve enough resources to survive the crisis. 

  • But it isn’t all grim: the research also found that for many industries, the unique nature of the crisis is uncovering new growth opportunities, with many tech companies seeing record revenues and even increasing hiring through the rest of the year. 

  • The big picture: The tech industry emerged as a major source of jobs in NYC over the last decade, and while the industry isn’t immune to challenges posed by the current crisis, we believe it is well-positioned to bounce back. That’s why we want to do what we can to connect those people who may have lost jobs with new opportunities that are emerging every day. 

  • One quick plug: if you’re interested in working on these issues and more, Tech:NYC is also hiring! We’re looking for our next policy director — learn more and get in touch here.

RETURN-TO-OFFICE PLANS:

As New York plans its reopening, so too are companies forming their return-to-office strategies. In addition to following federal guidelines, here are new updates on strategies to consider:The Security Executive Council’s COVID-19 Security Response Tactics and Strategies to Consider for Business Resumption Plans outlines five key areas of consideration in developing return-to-office plans:

  • Preparing for re-entry

  • Re-entry logistics for employees, vendors, and governance considerations

  • Ways to best leverage security teams and their tools

  • Staggering the workforce and staging the workplace differently

  • Post-business-resumption risks and preventive measures

Request: please let us know as your return-to-office policies are developed and what considerations your companies are taking for developing them. Sharing this information is helpful to companies and employees across the NYC ecosystem and can be kept anonymous.

Reminder: Tech:NYC’s resource guide is now available here and contains a comprehensive list of return-to-office plans published in previous digests.

POLICY:

  • Joint legislative hearings on the pandemic’s effect on health, life, and auto insurance are expected to be held in the coming weeks, according to Assembly Member Kevin Cahill. (Twitter)

  • Gov. Cuomo asked the MTA to develop a 24 hour disinfecting plan. Currently, the service is disinfecting trains and buses every 72 hours. (NY1)

  • House Democrats will soon unveil a federal aid plan for state and local governments. (POLITICO) NYC City Council Speaker Corey Johnson emphasized why such a package is vital and has national implications. (MSNBC)

EVENTS:

  • April 30: Virtual: Retention Strategies for your Workforce, with Inspire Human Resources CEO Jaime Klein. Hosted by Newlab. (Details)

  • April 30: Virtual: The New Workplace, with Slack CEO Stewart Butterfield and Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg. Hosted by Axios. (Details)

  • May 1: Virtual: Startup Financing Forum: Current Prospects & Strategies for Angel Financing. Hosted by NY Tech Alliance. (Details)

  • May 6: Webinar: Navigating Uncertainty: Q1 2020 VC Activity in the Context of COVID-19 and Market Volatility, with NVCA, Carta,and Silicon Valley Bank. Hosted by Pitchbook. (Details)

  • May 6: Virtual: brunchwork at home, with Credit Karma co-founder and CTO Ryan Graciano. Hosted by brunwork. Use code TECHNYC30 for 30% off. (Details)

  • May 11-15: Virtual: Consensus: Distributed, a free virtual conference. (Details)

For Your Next Career Move:

  • If you were planning to make a career move this year, or if your current job has become unstable because of the pandemic, here are some tips from a career expert on how to conduct a job search in a time like this. (Forbes)

  • Indeed.com has an entire hub of resources, especially for people considering fully remote work and gig jobs for the first time. (Indeed)

  • If COVID-19 has moved your job interview to video, here’s some tips for how to make it successful. (Fast Company)

  • From someone who found her first job at the end of the 2008 recession, here’s a five-step guide for college graduates looking for their first careers during the pandemic. (Business Insider)

  • If you’re an employer and looking for new (virtual) ways to fill the gap in your in-person recruitment strategies, WayUp has a solution for that. (WayUp)

When In Doubt

Check these sources for verified information from government agencies and public health authorities:

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