“It has always been our job to be equal parts coach, mentor, enforcer, therapist, manager, expert and sometimes, lawyer,” said Jamie Coakley, vp of people at the New York-based IT firm Electric. But amid the COVID-19 crisis, she added, “I felt some days that I could go work for FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency], maybe a crisis organization, or go into the medical field as a next step with how quickly things escalated. Some days I was an amateur nurse documenting employee symptoms, other days I was just a helpful ear.”

As its role is to be directly responsible for employees and employee-related issues, the HR job is inherently challenging. Dealing with individuals and their unique needs, all the while managing the execution of company and government policies, often means bridging a gap between what a person needs and what the organization can do. But making employees feel safe has been uncharted territory. “My job really pushed the boundaries of providing some level of physical and mental health care for employees,” Coakley said.

Last March, when the media started to warn of an impending public health crisis, consumers were bombarded with misinformation, leading to widespread feelings of stress and anxiety. Coakley’s firm swiftly communicated to its employees that their health and safety were the company’s first priority. It made weekly updates and check-ins a priority, and accommodated flexible hours around childcare needs. “We have continued to take the stance that if an issue in the outside world is affecting our employees, then it is an employee issue and we need to be a part of the solution,” Coakley added.

She believes the role of HR has changed forever with the pandemic. “In the coming years, we will continue to see HR in the most progressive organizations prioritize the personal health, mental health and general well-being of their teams,” she said. “There will be increased awareness around mental health, therapy, childcare and time-off policies in months to come. And for years to come, I believe we will see healthcare provided onsite and access to medical care for all workers.”

Kim Nguyen, director of people operations at the New York-based fintech firm Alloy, noted that HR professionals have not been immune from the difficulties all employees in an organization face. She found herself consistently emphasizing the need for her company’s employees to take PTO — even as she ended up taking very little herself.

While HR people have been in charge of figuring out how to maintain any sense of workplace normalcy and employee wellness, she observed, no one has really been checking in on them.

Noting her involvement with organizations of HR professionals during the pandemic, Nguyen said, “You could really …read more

Source:: Digiday

Author: Aaron