The Imperative of Self-Care For HR Managers
Post an impromptu town hall meeting where the CEO of a leading tech company announced the tough decision to lay off 2000 employees, Avantika, the company’s HR manager found herself overwhelmed with phone calls, emails seeking clarification and union leaders knocking on doors. She was expected to hit the ground running and ensure that the layoff process happens in a systematic and timebound manner.
That meant giving the crushing news to 2000 employees, absorbing a disgruntled employee’s anger, listening to a grievance or even handling an accusation with grace, empathy and compassion.
And when a mass layoff hits a company, the company’s HR team not only has to manage the emotional stress from outgoing employees but also uplift the morale of the existing ones.
For Avantika, managing the layoff process was emotionally draining. To her, it felt like carrying the baggage of 4,000 diverse employees on her shoulders for two months. And the long hours with the legal team made it physically an exhausting exercise.
Being an HR manager in today’s times is no longer a routine task, it demands immaculate people management skills. HR Managers often find themselves simultaneously juggling between employee wellbeing, organisational development and crisis management. However, the stress and emotional toll of such multifaceted responsibilities cannot be overlooked and it is imperative to shine a light on the well-being of HR professionals, who sometimes serve as the unsung therapists within their organisations.
From handling terminations to conflict management, HR managers have to bear the weight of complex and varied tasks. If one scrolls through the news on appraisals at Indian tech companies, most of them are facing down the barrel and employee expectations knocking on the doors of the senior management. And it is not uncommon for the company’s HR department to become a firewall for the company and soak in all the criticism and even employee outbursts in some cases.
If numbers tell a story, a survey revealed that 84 percent of HR professionals felt stressed at work. Alarming isn't it?
Strategies for HR Self-Care
Open Communication: Encourage HR professionals to openly communicate with colleagues, and mentors or even collaborate through virtual HR forums. Taking simple steps like sharing experiences and seeking advice can help in managing stress.
Mental health check-ins
Promote the importance of regular mental health check-ins. Well-being assessments are not for an employee alone, even the HR pros need to take care of themselves on priority. Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) are not for an employee’s self-care including the well-being of those who spearhead such well-being programs.
Balancing Workloads
HR departments should ensure that HR professionals are not overwhelmed with heavy workloads Implementing workload management strategies can help mitigate the stress.
HR managers play an integral role in shaping the well-being and culture of their organisations. It is essential to recognise that they too can experience stress, burnout and emotional turmoil at the workplace. As the month for employee well-being draws to a close, organisations must lay extra stress on taking extra care of their people managers.
