The last year gripped with the COVID-19 pandemic was a challenge for everyone. Companies, HR, and working professionals began looking for viable means of upholding the ethos of Survival of the Fittest!
To survive amid the new normal– the working class had to adapt and adhere to the new working conditions.
Ensuring workflow stays unaffected and stands undeterred against the virus- some found it a wise idea to carry on with the remote work, and some changed their profession. But the one person who had to make things work- irrespective of the present condition is HR Professional. Undoubtedly, HR managers had the most challenging role.
While everyone was getting in sync with the new work situation- HR did it all to get it in order. Right from reorganization to facilitating the coordination among employees and departments- the struggle has been for real! It was difficult and intimidating. Unlike the previous times, it was necessary to master new technologies and get acquainted with the use of the software.
Although, the emergence of the COVID-19 vaccine came as a ray of hope that companies will soon return to their normal office workflow. But the coronavirus pandemic has brutally affected companies, the labor market, the working class, and people, and it will not be possible to get back to the same state “as before.” Therefore, companies and employees will need to prepare themselves according to new working conditions. And the HR manager will take the best care of staff adaptation.
7 Tips For The HR Manager Of Today
If the HR manager works for a small or medium-sized company, they are still likely to hire new candidates. But with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the selection process has become more rigorous and takes place in several stages. And the first step is just reviewing your resume and cover letters.
And taking a cue from this, the first tip for 2024 is:
Tip 1. Find Out The Interest Of The Applicant Who Is Looking For A Job
When you put on the board- “we are hiring”, it is a great idea to ask job seekers to send a cover letter along with their resume.
This is the best and easiest way for the HR managers to understand how keen the applicant is and how carefully they have gone through the job profile. The interested applicant will later be one among a loyal employees and will be prepared for new work conditions.
Tip 2. Look For New Ones, But Don’t Go Out With The Old Employees!
It is the first and foremost duty of HR managers to get the best professionals onboard and train new people. In this process – one important thing is not to forget the old pals they already have. Laying focus on the new recruits and forgetting the old can make the latter feel left out and they may start wondering if they should or shouldn’t be part of the same firm.
Caution: If the employee engagement slips down- it is going to be the definite reason behind the low efficiency and productivity of working professionals.
Tip 3. Use Available Technologies To Ensure Communication Lines Stay Open
Erica Volini, Global Human Capital Leader for Deloitte Consulting, delineates the importance of leveraging software in 2024. With the advent of the COVID-19 vaccine, many companies can return to their normal work schedule. But not all employees are ready to get back to their offices.
Since working remotely has already been a hit, managers do not mind allowing some departments to operate through remote working. The best part of WFH is that it has significantly dropped company costs while maintaining employee performance.
To ensure smooth workflow and coordination among remote workers and office workers, you must tick mark the inclusion of at least one online workspace for all. At the moment, there are many programs and tools that can be taken into the new normal work situation.
Gaining hands-on experience on the regular use of one or two tech-based tools, employees can engage in effective communication related to tasks, project discussion, implementation, and hold conferences between departments. Since communication happens directly with each other, you can remain assured that the addressee will receive your message or order.
But for this system to work well and steer success- employees have to look forward to this type of cooperation, the HR manager needs to smoothly streamline the implementation, and train employees through personal and collective meetings.
Tip 4. Carry An Optimistic Outlook On “Communication”
Change is meant for the better but every change and transition in the company impacts the employees, primarily communication and understanding between one another. Thus, a professional HR manager must take the lead in maintaining and keeping connections.
An HR manager should communicate with employees on a regular basis, not only at the time when changes or challenges come up. If you know what problems they are facing, it will be easier for you to come up with a viable solution.
Tip 5. Collaborate With All Team Members
The HR manager should support all members of each team. To make it happen, you need to gain hands-on knowledge of the individual needs of each employee and department as a whole and how the pandemic, lockdown, and new working conditions affect their work. Work closely with managers to come up with new ideas and innovative methods for employee management. Department managers know better than anyone else how their departments work.
Tip 6. Rewarding & Benefits Of Employees
A good salary is one of the primary reasons for a new employee, but working conditions are more important than ever. If a person overworks and is under stress 24×7, they won’t stay in the company for longer. The task for HR departments is to make them feel protected and appreciated in the work environment.
Therefore, HR managers need to list vacation plans, flexibility in time, perhaps even provide wellness programs and paid sick leave to employees. All these little efforts will make employees happier and increase loyalty to the company. This helps the company save a lot of time and money as these little things are eliminating the need to find and train a new employee.
Tip 7. Holding Up A Training Program
With America’s unemployment rate dropping down each month, new employees are expected in 2024 who will need to complete an initial training program. In this case, the employee needs the help of an experienced mentor who supervises and supports the newly minted colleagues.
Besides, “old” employees also need training to better their qualifications. Continuous growth encourages the quality of performance and career advancement. But learning doesn’t have to be improvised. It should be a program based on a plan, keeping a tab on the results and goals. The HR manager is fully responsible for appointing training managers and mentors.
Final Words!
The key responsibilities of the HR Manager include looking after the development of employees on all levels. But don’t forget about yourself in the course.
