Human Resources practices and policies are one of the many areas that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and those changes will be felt for many years to come.
Data from the Human Resources Professional Association (HRPA) COVID-19 member survey, which represents dozens of sectors and industries, indicated that HR professionals are planning to return to work and are anticipating “significant change” in the workplace.
“HR professionals have been front and centre in supporting their workplaces and employees through the most significant workforce disruption in modern times,” said Louise Taylor Green, CEO of HRPA, which is based in Ontario. “Workplaces will fundamentally change and the ‘new normal’ will require a total reset in HR practices and policies.”
Eighty-six per cent of HR professionals have started planning for employees to return to work, while 89 per cent plan to recall staff members were temporarily laid off as a result of the crisis. Fifty-three per cent anticipate having all employees back within six months, and 38 per cent of workplaces are planning permanent restructuring due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Some of the restructuring includes physical changes to the workspace, new infection prevention and control measures, changes to shift schedules and hours of work, increased support for mental health, and toolkits and resources for people that oversee remote teams and are leading employees through significant change.
“The velocity and complexity of change for those in a leadership role is unprecedented,” said Green. “We see that HR professionals have enabled their organizations to adopt a fundamental mind shift in terms of the viability of remote work, even as teams navigate some major challenges. An astounding 70 per cent of respondents report their perceptions of remote work have changed since the pandemic.”
Key takeaways from the survey include a change in the 9-to-5 norm, as many programs are being put in place right now — things like modified work schedules (25 per cent), flex time (19 per cent), and rotating shifts (18 per cent). And 81 per cent of organizations plan to permanently retain or expand remote working options.
Of the survey respondents, 80 per cent of organizations will require a sign-off of new/updated policies or procedures around health, safety, or hygiene in the workplace. And nearly all respondents (95 per cent) plan to implement or expand the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for their employees.
To view the survey infographic, click here.
