The demand on HR truly has been uprecedented
Even today, eight months after it all started, the upheaval that has been caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is still not fully understood. The repercussions of this tumultuous, scary and unpredictable time continue to emerge, as people and economies try to figure out the new normal.
For someone in HR, it must feel like a game of Whac-A-Mole some days, the popular game where you use a plastic mallet to hit the heads of moles as they pop up from their holes. These “moles” have ranged from payroll requirements, government programs, temporary layoffs and remote work technology to safety protocols, mental illness, employment legislation and virtual benefits. Just when you think you have one part solved, another pops up.
The demand on human resources truly has been unprecedented. After the initial scramble to figure things out, fast, as economics and workplaces shut down, there was the momentous task of dealing with vast numbers of people working remotely or ramping up safety efforts for those on the front lines. And then, of course, there were the millions of layoffs, an emotionally draining and Herculean task for HR.
And while there might have been somewhat of a lull in the late spring as people settled into their new routines, newer issues such as mental health and remote work challenges became apparent. People were suffering, whether from anxiety or isolation, and needed additional support. Then there were the ever-changing workplace regulations keeping employers on their toes.
Now, we’re entering into the next chapter, the return-to-work phase for millions of displaced employees, whether because they’ve worked from home or been temporarily laid off, along with the ramping up of hiring for sectors coming back online.
But even this time is not easy because there are still so many unknowns. What will “workplace safety” look like in the new world of work? How many employees should continue to work remotely? What happens if there’s a second or third wave of the virus? What temporary changes should stay permanent?
It makes me wish for simpler times when issues such as cannabis legalization and the classification of dependent contractors were the biggest “moles” to deal with. Here’s hoping the game comes to an end soon.
