HR playing a bigger role during and after COVID-19

The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted organizations and caused the human resources departments to think differently about their role as they adjust to social distancing practices and a new work environment that they may never have imagined.

 

To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, companies have switched to a remote work model at a rate and scale they’ve never experienced. As face-to-face collaboration is replaced with e-mail and videoconferencing, the HR department have to do difficult work under difficult circumstances.

 

Not only are HR professionals concerned about employees’ health and well-being during the pandemic, they are also under the strain of processing the paperwork and providing solace to the millions of workers who have been laid off or furloughed. For employees still, on the job, HR managers are trying to keep their workers productive, motivated, engaged, and connected—all factors that are moving targets in the new normal.

 

HR to play a bigger role during and after Covid-19

 

With the current disruption in the industry, traditional ways of working have become things of the past. It is crucial for HR to revamp the policies and processes in accordance with the new normal.

The need for remote working would grow the demand for automation and collaboration tools and increase the shift to cloud computing. It is imperative to keep employees motivated and enthused to achieve this future together. In these times, the human resources (HR) department is tasked with ensuring adequate enablement and engagement of teams while also preparing for some hard decisions.

 

The organizations which were prepared for the work from home were better equipped to deal with the nationwide situation without any significant impact on productivity. The HR department of every organization has been in the frontline, leading the efforts to facilitate employees. In situations like these, HR, in addition to handling the business requirements, is also responsible for managing concerns and apprehensions of their employees.

 

As the initial chaos settles, HR has to step up and support their employees and prioritize their mental and emotional wellbeing. These unprecedented times can induce anxiety and raise the stress levels of a person, and the onus is on the employers to channel these emotions in order to keep their employees safe, motivated, and productive.

 

Covid-19 has allowed HR to demonstrate the importance of HR strategies for mitigating people’s risk.

 

Crisis management and business continuity planning remain the top challenges faced by HR during the Covid-19 outbreak,

 

What are the challenges being faced by HR due to Covid-19?

 

The challenges that HR faces vary with their company’s location, sector, and size, but most organisations will have to tighten their belts. Companies are seeking alternate corporate strategies, such as using technology to support work-from-home or reviewing costs to stretch the budget. Crisis management and business continuity planning remain the top challenges faced by HR during the Covid-19 outbreak. The list of priorities also includes managing flexible work arrangements, employee communications to increase awareness, addressing employee concerns on workplace policies, implementing preventive measures, and reviewing current welfare policies.

 

How the lockdown has impacted HR as a whole?

 

The coronavirus outbreak has allowed HR to effectively demonstrate the importance of HR strategies for mitigating people’s risk. During the entire lockdown, the role of HR has been very crucial in how they had been handling the ongoing crisis and ensuring smooth operations of their organisations. Today, HR is no longer working behind closed doors and has become a crucial part of driving the organisation’s success. During these unprecedented times, the role of HR leaders has become all the more important and they are expected to respond quickly and comprehensively, considering immediate, short-term, and long-term consequences.

 

Above are the contentious challenges which HR department requires to face. However, they are also human and they also go through all the pandemic effects gone by the employees also. This is the time when someone requires to support them on priority. This is necessary as they keep motivated and has a good connect with the employees.

 

In order to motivate and give supportive help to the HR department who are doing a wonderful job during the pandemic, RTN Alpa Shah, President, Rotary Club of Mumbai Inspire hereby is proud to announce the support to the HR department.

 

That being said, we’d now like to highlight the heroic efforts of some courageous and inspiring members from our club saving the lives of COVID-19 patients.

 

It is said that rather than looking at a broader perspective look around us. Sometimes we miss those who are near to us who are giving the necessary care to the effected people. Rotary Club of Mumbai Inspire is very proud to announce that our club itself has covid warriors. They are actually available 24/7 for any help for the patients. This gives our club a feather in our hat wherein we are practically attending the issues to solve rather than depending on anybody else.

 

We all are always one step ahead for any help during the pandemic. We would be happy to help and request the HR team to connect with us and we will be obliged to give support and help.