‘’My boss is counting on me to take a lead in reshaping the workplace for its recovery by preserving the remaining employees with speed and expertise. I am finding it hard to also deal with the changes but it is up to me to preserve the remaining employees’’ – Mercy, an HR manager who was undertaking a Master HR skills practical course with us.
The pandemic has come with a lot of changes in organizations. It has introduced new ways of working, has led to pay cuts and layoffs, changed the working styles and more use of technology.
A few sectors and companies amid the crises have thrived such as delivery companies. Some have had to be innovative by changing their model of business to embrace the new norm.
Whether thriving or struggling, there has been a major disruption in the workplace that has affected employees posing challenges to HR professionals.
Although some changes have positively impacted employees, others have taken a toll on their productivity and mental health. HR professionals are expected to help employees deal with these changes.
So, how can you as an HR professional better manage change?
Communicate Openly
Whether you feel that the changes are significant or not, ensure to explain them. Explain the changes, why they are important and the results of the changes whether positive or negative.
State their advantages and disadvantages and ensure that you communicate clearly. Explain the roles the employees will play in implementing these changes and the expected results. It is also important to equip other team leaders to do the same.
If layoffs happen or have already happened, then HR professionals need to bring together the remaining staff members and make them feel valued by ensuring that employees feel that their jobs are secure. Having everyone on the same page will help the company move together as a business.
Open and timely communication will help build trust and reduce the spread of rumors that may cause anxiety in the workplace. It makes all the difference.
Be Open to Feedback
The Pandemic has forced HR professionals to rethink the way they interact with employees. The best way for them to get feedback is to maintain personal contact with individual employees.
Pick channels that employees use for communication. It could be you joining employees in the lunch break room and having a casual conversation with them. You could even reach out to the most extroverted employee who can interact with anyone in the office. Anonymous surveys are important to encourage honesty from employees.
If one-on-one meetings are not possible, e-mail staff to ask if they are experiencing any challenges to understand what the team is dealing with.
Take a step and recognize this feedback to help inform decisions for the business and the employee wellbeing.
Employees want to know they are being heard.
Embrace Flexibility
Some studies reveal that employers would be open to adopting the work from home or remote working even after the pandemic.
Realize that employers may have different needs. For instance, a working mother may need babysit their children due to their nanny not coming to work last minute. Find a way to accommodate them.
Allow your employees to work from home. It could shifts or full time on some days of the week. This reduces absenteeism and boosts productivity.
HR professionals can train workers on how to be productive while working from home. This would also mean that you are flexible with technology that supports effective performance management without being a micromanager.
Motivate Your Employees
Find ways to boost your employee’s morale. If they have been layoffs or increased business, equip your employees with training to take up more responsibilities. Delegate and assign them leadership roles.
Ensure that you acknowledge their work and reward them. Have an environment where you can meet them outside the office for team building activities or have company parties. Recognize and compensate them for any extra work they have done. It makes them feel like they want to do more.
Seen employees suggesting new ideas around how to improve the business in the tough times and going ahead and implementing them contributes to the success of the business.
Encouraging that kind of environment is important for the success of implementing any changes.
Conclusion
Everyone reacts to change differently but what remains constant is that it is inevitable. Always ensure when it happens, you are equipped to take employees throughout the process following the above recommendations when it happens to the end. Always anticipate change and have a plan to take lead.
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