5 HR Things You Should Do Because of COVID
Almost two years in as of writing this, and we still haven’t escaped COVID-19. What started as stay-at-home orders and travel bans, has become a question of how to find people to work and give at least the appearance of keeping everyone safe. This means, lots of new HR laws to follow and new company policies that need to be put in place and consistently revised. Not to mention a whole new landscape of HR issues to manage.
Anticipating the spread of COVID-19 among workers with preventive measures such as clean and healthy living habits and the Occupational Safety and Health program;
Create a preparedness plan for the COVID-19 pandemic with the aim of minimizing the risk of transmission in the workplace and maintaining business continuity;
Take risk management steps against workers who are suspected of being infected with COVID-19 according to the Health Standard Procedure.
Apart from those things above, here are 5 things HR should do to help employees to maintain productivity during the pandemic.
1. Find ways to team build & socially distance
COVID-19 took many teams virtual with a lot of companies deciding never to return to brick & mortar business. This means lots of online meetings and people working from all over the country and the world. Even if your team returned to the office, we’re still being encouraged to keep our distance. So how to create camaraderie and increase morale when even a simple high-five for a job well done is frowned upon?
HR should take the lead on creating competition virtually and rewarding teams for working together even when they are apart.
2. Team workouts
Studies show that people who workout have stronger immune systems. And stronger immune systems help employees call out less and be more productive. COVID-19 saw an increase in online personal trainers and group workouts. HR should leverage this by creating physical challenges among employees, scheduling dance or stretch breaks during long virtual meetings and brokering discounts for gym memberships or training sessions.
For work from home employees this is especially important since there is no incentive to get up and walk to the breakroom with no co-workers to talk to. This can lead to fatigue and tense neck muscles, leading to decreased productivity.
3. Hold online classes
HR should take a cue from teachers and make virtual meeting and classes interactive. Programs like Kahoot, allow meeting participants to get involved from where ever they are. Zoom also offers breakout rooms to allow small group discussions for larger meetings. HR should help build interaction into each and every meeting.
4. Talk to Employees and Listen to What They Say
Yes, very simple, but very rarely done. As HR, call or arrange video calls and actually ask how people are in the company. Also, ask what their biggest challenge is to work in a time like this. HRD should have a role to make sure employees feel safe to share what's on their minds and give feedback without fear.
5. Share Your Experience, Including Challenges
Sharing anecdotes and experiences from life and how HR and leaders are can manage themselves through the challenges of COVID can build a comfortable relationship. Employees can try to downplay the impact personal matters have on their work for fear that they’ll be viewed as incompetent by their bosses. Show them you’re human too and help them work through their personal issues.
By doing those things above, your company will survive the pandemic while continuously fighting to win the inevitably down market.
