HR Challenges, Opportunities and Actions after Covid-19: 3 HR Interventions

Dr.S.Sundararajan, Associate Professor , SIMS

1. Health first:

As the government rules are stringent, HR managers has to be serious . Any kind of odd incidence if happens in organisation, the organisation has to suffer. Hence HR managers need to take care to put employee health on priority. Organisation needs to have stringent norms and HR has to take every precaution to administer and see to it that they are followed. Any non-compliance in this regards should be highlighted.

HR managers need to encourage employees for maintaining healthy lifestyle like yoga and exercise to maintain consistency. A scheme can be put to award the family who does exercise regularly. This will help to keep the efficiency up and reduce the negativity which may come in the organisation.

When I say health, it’s not just physical. It’s mental, emotional and financial too. HR need to play a major role and guide employee time to time about all these things. If any family member of employee in future suffers from Corona, it should be intimated to HR on priority. This can avoid any panic situation in office. So it’s not just employee, his family health matters. Only small hope of survival  can do  wonders.

2. Communicate the reality:

It is observed that the higher authorities usually communicate many things to employees. One needs to differentiate between thoughts and reality. When the task is supported or can be supported with evidence it is termed as reality, rest are thoughts. It is better to communicate reality to employee as this sets ground for employees to plan themselves for the situation.  Specific and real picture can only help employee to get involved and contribute his best Employees who will be aware of reality and will manage his finances, his needs and his expectations. If the organisation is in trouble, employee will take precautionary measures. This all is based on the employee engagement. Reality is not right or wrong, it’s what is seen.

3. Growth is not enough:

Organisation leaders are worried and trying to find out the ways to bring their businesses on track. Usually when any such kind of epidemic situation comes, the businesses re-bounce and grows drastically. Here, one needs to remember, financial growth may be seen and observed on various front, but it is not enough. One must have strong mind-set to come out of this situation and grow. Business need paradigm shift. Just thinking in the same way will not be enough. Here HR can add very high value to the organisation. HR needs to put this mind-set in employee and appeal for innovative ideas in business which can help organisation to re-bounce and take driving seat in the economy. HR needs to expect more.