Trends that will Shape HR During this Pandemic

The onset of the coronavirus pandemic has brought on several transformations in our daily lives in the past few months. These changes are most apparent in how we work and communicate. To deal with the hurdles created by the pandemic, companies have undergone various structural reforms and transformations. Some of these transformations are temporary in nature and some are here to stay. The HR departments of every business that has been impacted by COVID-19 has evolved to facilitate work that is conducive to growth even in a pandemic. Here are some trends you should look forward to that will shape the future of HR during this pandemic:

Remote work culture

As governments across the world imposed lockdowns and restrictions on venturing out, working from home was the only means to keep operations going. For some, this was harder than thought, and for others, it was easy as pie. Six months plus into the pandemic, almost every company has adapted and perfected remote working for its employees and HR has played a significant role in this transformation. Today, many companies are even considering remote working as a permanent option even after the pandemic is over. As remote working gains more and more acceptance as a viable long term strategy for companies, HR will have to play an integral role to coordinate closely with Finance, IT and other departments to develop and implement new rules. A lot of companies have shared the feedback that remote working has not only helped organizations save daily operational costs, for some, productivity has actually increased in this setup. Some organizations have declared work from home till as late as March 2021.

Virtual recruitment

Gone are the days of face to face interviews, HR teams across companies in every industry have realised that hiring through virtual means has no downsides. In fact, virtual recruitments are more efficient and time-saving when compared with traditional means of hiring. Presently, there are some kinks in the process that can be eliminated by automating the screening process.  

Virtual recruitment has opened the whole wide world as a talent pool for HR as remote working is a viable alternative for working from company premises. Virtual recruitment has unlocked new vectors of growth for a company. HR's ability to ramp up work-from-home staff, create temporary centres in unconventional places, or shift operations to different geographies will subsequently lead to an increase in output even during a pandemic.

Digital rewards & recognition

Appreciating the employees digitally through rewarding them with gift points/vouchers, accessibility to wellness programs, digital badges/certificates, etc. for their performance is the new beginning of a digital transformation in HR activities. Rewards and Recognition plays a very major role in maintaining employee engagement and creates touchpoints monthly or quarterly with employees regarding their performance, instead of the standard annual appraisal cycles. Rewarding on applications of certain company cultural values also creates a drive in the company to follow them and work cumulatively as an organization towards the company's growth.

Motivational work culture

Owing to the fear and uncertainty created by the pandemic HRs have instituted various mechanisms to motivate the workforce and boost morale. These measures range from motivational one-on-one's to virtual seminars. They are aimed to ensure that even while people are working remotely, they feel connected by a common aim and remain invested in driving the company forward. The pandemic has brought on a wave of transparency among workplaces. HR across industries are keeping employees in the loop. There is an environment of trust developed by the HR under which each employee is aware and informed about the position of the company in various contexts.

Focus on employee wellbeing

This pandemic has taught us the importance of health and having the right resources to deal with any future health issues. HRs will now focus on the health and wellbeing of the employees by opting for group insurance policy and other wellness benefits to support their employees in case of crisis.  

Work has a new meaning in this age of physical distancing, and the new normal is soon going to be the standard. Even though HR personnel have a challenging task at hand; they must understand the trends that need urgent attention and require planning and strategy to implement. Those who succeed amongst the HR leaders will usher a new way of working, which is agile and cost-effective.