ROLE OF HR AFTER LOCKDOWN

AND GLOBAL CRISIS

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world dramatically. This rare disaster has resulted
in a large number of human lives being lost. Due to this pandemic the whole world has
been put in a Great Lockdown. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the whole scenario of
what the organization’s think. Many organizations are using digital platforms to operate
and conduct business. All these new and upcoming changes have made businesses
contemplate, how to do business without physically seeing or meeting each other.
According to a study, nearly 50 % employees are willing to come back to work until late
June at the earliest. Some employees are afraid, while some employees lack childcare
options because the schools and day care centres are closed.

The COVID-19 pandemic is quickly changing how every organization is recruiting and
retaining employees on their virtual teams, making remote work the new normal. The major
advantage here would be that there would be a reduction in cost per employee in terms of
facilities cost and increase in the flexibility provided to employees. Looking at the talent
from cost perspective, more emphasis would be given to non-monetary benefits and
recognition than former cash-based benefits or incentives. Many companies like Tata have
already shared their restart manuals which focusses mainly on remote working. The
companies would face many challenges to return back to normalcy post lockdown.
The HR’s play a very crucial role to bring back the organization to normalcy. To effectively
deal with a crisis, the companies should be able to react correctly when such situations
arise. HR teams must ensure that the health, safety, and welfare of employees are all in a
proper place. By collaborating with other organizational leaders, HR can assure that the
human capital is taken care of in all crisis management and business continuity plans. HR
managers should work collaboratively with other key organizational functions, identifying
the types of emergencies that the company may face. Also, HR’s should provide information
and more trainings for employees to overcome the fear and danger and also work in a
peaceful manner. After the crisis is over HR managers have serious issues to deal with. The
organization eventually has to rise from the ashes and valuable employees who fell during
the crisis have to be replaced, which is the main task of HR.