New Challenges Presented by the COVID-19 Pandemic

Government organizations and regulatory authorities are continuously changing the information provided to companies. Health authorities are imposing new rules and regulations each day in light of the pandemic.

Fremont, CA: The coronavirus disease has impacted life on a global scale and tipped off balance in life for all people. The outbreak of the virus has deeply impacted workers of all kinds. The pandemic has presented severe mental, physical, and financial complications to everyone. Businesses have been deeply impacted and have been forced to adapt to new methods like remote work to keep the company running. As social distancing and no contact experiences become mandatory, it is hard to keep offices open as it poses a significant amount of risk to public health. HR teams have been burdened with extensive responsibilities to ensure productivity during these challenging times. Here are some of the emerging challenges faced by HR professionals in these changing times.

Communication

[vendor_logo_first]Government organizations and regulatory authorities are continuously changing the information provided to companies. Health authorities are imposing new rules and regulations each day in light of the pandemic. Companies are being forced to take actions accordingly. Organizations need to find a quick way to communicate these messages to their employees quickly. CEOs and managers should build a strong line of communication and reassure their employees that they are reviewing government guidelines and how they plan to comply with them. They should also provide a weekly update on the company’s performance and inform the staff that they are looking for all possible assistance from the government to protect the employees. Employers also need to provide a space for the employees to chat as if in the office, such as a virtual coffee break. Talking things through with others will help during this distressing time.

Trust

Most companies have adopted remote working, and for many, it was not by choice. This is a significant cultural change that took place overnight, leaving companies less than adequate time to plan for such an event. Trust is one of the essential elements of work from home. Some techniques can increase trust across departments. Daily stand-ups can be scheduled where managers discuss work priorities per day for the team and themselves and inquire from employees if any blockers prevent the execution of their work. Team and employee performance should be measured by KPI metrics, which should be reported weekly by each team to the CEO.

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