The Covid 19 ushered in unprecedented changes and brought about unthinkable transformations to all our lives. From education to entertainment, the employment sector to health care, it has affected all walks of the human race.
The ‘New Normal’ has re-shaped the job sector and introduced the ‘Work from Home’ culture. What used to be an occasional event in the past has suddenly become the most accepted norm. This deviation has persuaded companies to re-think their engagement with the employees who are their biggest assets.
According to Chetna Gogia, Chief Human Resources Officer – Aakash EduTech Pvt Ltd.,
“Covid 19 has allowed HR to demonstrate the importance of HR strategies for mitigating people’s risk.”
So, what can be the possible HR strategies to normalize work?
Build Trust:
During the work from home sessions, companies need to reach out to the employees even to a larger extent. They need to retain the faith that while working, their employees would maintain standards, deliver their best performances, and meet deadlines without fail.
HR team members can arrange online webinars and conduct wellness programmes to maintain a positive virtual work environment and build up a sense of oneness among the employees.
Connect:
Regular communication through appropriate channels is crucial to ensure that the employees feel safe at work. During daily work from home sessions, companies need to maintain a ‘humane’ relationship with the employees. The choice of the mode of communication depends a lot on what is being communicated.
Special care has to be taken by the HR professionals to make sure that the right message is being conveyed through the right channels. The HR team has to take up the responsibility of motivating the employees and allowing them flexibility while working.
Put Mental Health First:
As a result of the prolonged lockdown, some employees might also face issues related to anxiety. During these uncertain times, companies should provide mental health support to the employees to keep up their spirits and make them feel psychologically safe.
To implement this, the HR team can organize sessions with renowned mental health experts. Open and informal virtual discussions can also be conducted where employees can interact and express themselves better.
Enhance technological usage:
Technology plays a vital role during remote work. In the present workplaces, having cloud-based tools and technologies is more than necessary. HR individuals can guide the employees regarding the optimal usage of instant messaging, internal platforms, etc.
HR leaders can take this opportunity to evaluate the effect of technology usage on employee productivity and form better policies concentrating on the need for technological investment for successful remote working.
Design appropriate evaluative techniques:
To evaluate employees’ performances, companies need to shift their focus from the hours spent at work to the quality of the work. While assigning tasks, the expectations should be clearly defined along with specific task details. The employees should be evaluated based on the extent to which those expectations are met. This will decrease any kind of micromanagement.
