Learning’s from challenges, setbacks and wins of 2020
A big win and a lesson from the pandemic is the return to focus on productivity and profitability of an enterprise. These emerged as the key drivers, be it merely to sustain the business or towards enabling a structured growth plan. CORONA as a pandemic was initially too abrupt and hence the reactions were chaotic but stabilized within a short span giving room for business principles to thrive as against business aspirations which hitherto led from the front in a growing economy. In addition the pandemic drove businesses to nurture their human capital, which happens to be the driving force, in a free market place where money and machines are available aplenty. Another big learning for the Industry was that Staff nurturing & utilization is more critical than staff augmentation.
Priority focus areas for business for 2021
An immediate need is to put in place effective measures for workplace safety, employee wellness, employee engagement and to empower a co-ordinated work space for both onsite and remote workers using collaborative technology tools. At the same time human resource is a sensitive area of management, businesses have to prioritize on how to effectively utilize a disparate workforce with low morale and is therefore a huge opportunity in upping the ante of People Practice inside an organization aligned to its organizations objectives and goals. In such a scenario, the role of HR is very crucial in how they will handle the ongoing crisis and ensuring smooth operations of their organizations.
New ways of working
While housekeeping in terms of workplace safety or technology takes precedence, in a disruptive environment, strategy for the future in developing an organization and creating a hybrid workforce of full time employees together with the new age Gig / Platform workers would be the new normal. Promoting a collaborative work environment in a disparate work force is a humongous task for HR or the Business and is likely to take shape as trends emerge as the new modes of employee engagements get absorbed. Policy change challenges would stabilize over a period for the HR leaders and the industry to ensure that their organizations are prepared for every eventuality.
Ensure employee safety at workplaces
Existing workspace was not designed to meet an eventuality like the one thrown up by the pandemic providing limited options of either utilizing it partially or redesigning the work place which is a prohibitive cost parameter in an uncertain time. It does not stop at a mere redesign of the workplace but covers the new normal of composition of workforce, be it on site, remote, gig worker, platform worker or a hybrid workforce as needed. In an organization’s response to the pandemic, the HR managers are now looking ahead and making changes to policies, structures, and practices to align with the new way of working. The implementation and development of all these changes need a close collaboration of all the stakeholders in the organization. However, the transition is not as smooth as it seems as the challenges posed by the new way of working has thrown up many questions that need to be addressed before the implementation of these policies.
Technology, HR technology for better productivity amidst new ways of working
In the current situation, companies/HR heads should use next-gen HCM (Human Capital Management) solutions to ensure such disruptors do not impact work and build in systems and strategies to ensure work productivity is not hampered while taking into account employee well-being. It is time HR understands what keeps people engaged, what drives productive workplaces, and what enables a true merging of human capability with technology.
It is rightly said that the future of HR is here, and it is now! ‘Change is the only constant’ and companies who will adapt according to this global change will survive and the rest will be history!
Subramanyam S - Founder, President and CEO of AscentHR is an entrepreneur with experience in Finance, Legal and Business management. He is a corporate lawyer and a fellow member of “The Institute of Company Secretaries of India”.