Bharat S. Pawar
Normally any change comes with resistance naturally; but this time the abrupt change as Work from Home (WFH) was very well adapted by many of us with a smile. Organizations globally are ensuring on keeping employees safe, best utilization of staff and maintaining the operations for business continuity. Companies, which have been traditionally strong have allowed their employees to work from home and have happily started adapting to this change. Hence, it is an appreciation to those companies who have passed through this effectively without any difficulty in spite of facing time crunch.
Recently during this pandemic, IT departments are playing a crucial role in the continuous functioning of employees from home. There has been an increase in the frequency of team meetings so everyone can stay connected and it is because of the IT support that the employees can have uninterrupted conversations. Human Resource department and Communication department continue to play a significant role in the company. They conduct various activities like virtual employee engagement events and family connect activities to keep all employees engaged with their routine work and the organisation.
Learning & Development has seen a new shift to modern classrooms with virtual background giving a realistic feel. This new norm of WFH opportunities have undoubtedly turn out to be favourable for employees, but HR Leaders have been equally facing challenges to understand the WFH structure in a virtual environment. Connectivity, sensitivity from a culture and risk perspective is also taken into consideration. Looking at the recent trend, this becomes inevitable to follow the norm of social distancing executed by the locals and the government administration. We at the organization are ensuring the business continuing through virtual team meets who stay engaged without any huddle in the meetings and fun gatherings are not easy and put an enormous responsibility on HR.
Offices or work places are spaces where people connect with their colleagues and greet them regularly. There is a nurturing social connection which is shared due to face-to-face interactions every day. It is a form of routine but once this face-to-face contact is completely eliminated, these brief exchanges become a ‘hot commodity'. Employee safety and hygiene has become the buzzword in today's times. Corporates have started enhancing their support and attention to this while deploying employees to perform activities in the field and also for those working from home.
On a personal note earlier, we probably never asked about what is happening in family so frequently, in building premises and vicinity. But seeing the current scenario, we've started providing guidelines for safety to employees in addition to the advisory issued by local authorities. Corporates have started becoming more caring and concerned about health and well-being of employees and are taking extra effort to help those in need. Constant reminders are being shared with employees highlighting any behavioural healthcare services availability, including Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) or over-the-phone counselling's to make employees feel free from anxiety.
Time has always been precious, but now each day seems endless. The confusion and contradiction of roles hits hard. No matter how much we pretend, it is business-as-usual and tomorrow is yet another day; each day guides in the same tedium of life and the same drudgery of work. Employees tend to procrastinate and struggle all day as they multi-task between housework and office work. Therefore, we as HRs' should also become more empathetic with employee concerns while they work from home (WFH) as they intrude family space and privacy and at times managing work-life balance and work both is indeed a challenge for them.
There is also a strong need to become more creative due to necessity and encourage all employees to come out with new ways of working, networking and keeping human touch alive digitally. We should also address concerns for employee's career, job security and timely counselling's to help employees manage their mental health.
As HR departments are responsible in keeping pace with matters like employment law, health & safety policies, payroll & benefits and other issues that relate to day-to-day running of the company along with well-being of the employees. Globally, the crisis is forcing almost every business to immediately develop, adapt or improve policies & procedures for the benefit of all.
Therefore I strongly believe that 'Necessity is the mother of Innovation' and we should strive to keep excelling in our respective field for business continuity and human relations to the best of our abilities.
(Bharat S. Pawar is Senior Vice President Human Resources, National Bulk Handling Corporation)
