The discussion related to the global pandemic we are experiencing often focuses on health and safety considerations surrounding the disease itself—common symptoms, ways to prevent or mitigate the spread of the virus, and public health statistics. In organizational contexts, we often communicate about responses to the virus related to specific workplace operations and contingency plans for carrying on the work of our agency’s important mission. As well, aspects revolving around mental health and resiliency are highlighted amid the anxiety and uncertainty resulting from the myriad complexities and changes to everyday life associated with the pandemic. Indeed, the global COVID-19 pandemic has brought up many issues and concerns regarding the health and safety of our colleagues, friends and families.

One of these important issues which merits our attention is social stigma. Social stigmatization arises from a heightened sense of fear and anxiety, which can manifest in ugly and disheartening ways, such as through hateful street encounters, verbal attacks and cyberbullying. These events have been particularly intense for Asian Americans—irrespective of ethnicity, location or age—who have reported startling increases across the country in harassment, incidents of bias and discrimination and hate crimes.

During times of crisis, it is important to remember that we are all in this together, and it is critical for everyone to help combat this virus and the stigmatization associated with it. There have been many instances where employees have stepped up in their work and private life to make positive contributions in the fight against the virus and this issue. One such example includes our own Asian Pacific American Employee Association. Association members have volunteered their time to check in on the health and wellness of other Asian American and Pacific Islander employees. We encourage the rest of the Forest Service family to continue to support each other during this time by checking in on colleagues and their communities as well.

At its core, the USDA Forest Service values diversity and interdependence. We all have a responsibility to be aware of and address microaggressions, xenophobia and racism in the workplace and society. We can stop the spread of social stigma by calling out hateful rhetoric when we hear or see it in person or online and report hate speech to the platforms that host it. We can support individuals who we witness suffer the brunt of hateful or derogatory comments by supporting them when these incidents occur and letting them know that we do not tolerate bigotry and discrimination of any type. We can listen empathetically to members of Asian American communities who, on top of suffering the mental health and economic impacts that every American will experience, have become the target of unfounded bigotry and misdirected hate.

Viruses do not have an ethnicity. Regardless of race, religion or creed, we are all susceptible to the global pandemic in front of us today. As we seek to make sense of our new normal, we can be equally susceptible to the fear that comes with crises.  As our nation faces this unprecedented crisis, we must act as one community to support, help and protect each other.

Additional resources for stigma and COVID-19:

Social Stigma associated with COVID-19, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent, United Nations Children’s Fund, and the World Health Organization (WHO), 2020

Combating bias and stigma related to COVID-19, American Psychological Association, 2020

EEOC urges employers to mind bias against Asian Americans during pandemic, US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2020

Editor’s note: Keep up with the latest status updates about the coronavirus and use the Leadership Corner Forum (internal link) to discuss how you’re working during the coronavirus. Share what you’re doing to stay healthy and how you’re adapting to still serve the public.