Navigating The Pandemic: How To Make Sure Your HR Team Is Ready

The Covid-19 pandemic has shaken thousands of businesses. And while the government has created multiple programs to help companies survive, these programs are highly complex. Many of them were initially designed as short-term bandages, but many companies have needed to tap into these resources for months on end.

As the founder and CEO of a firm that provides outsourced accounting and HR services, I am currently helping a number of companies of all sizes navigate the HR obstacles they face today. I advise all my clients to make sure they have strong HR teams — whether internal or outsourced — for guidance right now because it’s critical to surviving these difficult times. A good HR team will provide support for your executive team and your employees.

Here are some tips to ensure that your HR team is prepared to help you navigate this crisis.

Put Your HR Team At The Forefront Of Employee Relations

Having your entire office suddenly working remotely is a huge adjustment for everyone. As your company adapts to changes in school openings, essential business regulations, office opening policies, etc., make sure your HR team is at the forefront of communicating what is going on and what employees should expect from the company.

Encourage your HR team to develop companywide initiatives to keep everyone on the same page. These can include monthly team meetings, one-on-one check-ins with HR, virtual happy hours, virtual team-building events, educational webinars or an enhanced training program to keep people busy and focused on increasing their skill sets.

For those at your company who are more impacted by Covid-19, such as those who need child care to be able to work, have your HR team lead a group of these individuals in finding solutions. If there are any workplace grievances, handle them confidentially, and consider having a third party come in to assess a fair outcome. Let all of your employees know that your leadership team is committed to helping everyone get through this crisis.

Lean On HR For Help Communicating Shifts In Strategy

The recession has also made 2020 a very stressful and volatile year. Your business goals may have changed drastically, or maybe your goals have been completely turned upside down. Many companies have had to pivot their focus and drastically change their service offerings. 

For sectors of your business that are growing, make sure HR is focused on retaining your top talent. A recent study of more than 600 executives found that companies with optimized talent strategies retain more of their top people and outperform other companies.

As your business strategy shifts, make sure to adjust performance benchmarks and communicate what you expect from your employees. HR can meet with staff and set new goals for the rest of the year so that your team members understand how they can better help your business grow. HR can also help you plan regular meetings so your staff can stay up to date on policy changes, how the company is doing, new initiatives and more.

Make Sure HR Is Keeping Track Of Federal And State Policy Changes

During the start of the pandemic, the federal government created the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) to help companies and employees grapple with the challenge. Unfortunately, this act was created with more of a short-term focus — not to mention it's extremely complicated and the guidelines continue to change. Make sure your HR team is checking the U.S. Department of Labor website regularly to keep abreast of all the changes.

HR plays an important role in communicating to employees what they qualify and don't qualify for. For example, your employees may be entitled to paid leave if a family member becomes sick and needs care, if their kids are home from school and they're unable to work, or if they themselves are suffering from Covid-19. Your HR team needs to determine how much compensation they are eligible for, which depends on a number of criteria, such as their average hourly pay over the last six months, including overtime. It is your business’s responsibility to understand what your employees qualify for and communicate that directly to them. HR needs to understand these details and implement the policies according to the law.

None of us were prepared when Covid-19 hit, and we certainly were not prepared for all the rules relating to FFCRA. To serve our HR clients, my team members have become experts in utilizing these benefits, but we can empathize with how confusing it can be for smaller companies with limited HR resources. I hope this article helps with some of the basics and encourages you to invest in strengthening your HR team to get through these hard times.

Read full article here. https://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2020/09/23/navigating-the-pandemic-how-to-make-sure-your-hr-team-is-ready/#6b35bc9f4613