There are lots of ways companies’ human resources departments have changed during the time we’re in. With lots of companies transition to working from home environment, and to a digital-based operation, human resources teams have seen their tasks and responsibilities change as well. Adjusting to the times were in has changed a variety of the tasks, assignments, and responsibilities that human resource personnel handle on a day to day basis.
Human Resources departments are heavily involved with and closely tied to the employees of a company. Acting as the bridge or liaison between the two, the company and employees, lots of their job functions and tasks have been shifted to digital formats, as they handle a lot of conflicts, events, and processes. Moving to a digital work environment has changed many of the tasks of a company’s human resources department.
The switch to working from home comes with a lot of changes and adjustments for employees everywhere. Whether it’s having the right setup, the necessary hardware to perform the functions of their job, or having access to the right tools, software’s, and programs they need in order to continue performing. It’s much different when each individual employee needs access to various software’s and tools, when in an office setting, it’s much easier to share and collaborate. Some companies might have office managers, tech teams or departments, or their human resources personnel working to complete these tasks. Whether it’s through coordination between multiple departments, getting the necessary approvals, or handling the matter themselves, it’s often a team effort to get employees set up with the resources and tools they need to continue working from home.
Connecting the company together is something that the human resources department is involved with in some way. The culture of a company is an important element to business and keeping employees happy with their positions. Whether it’s coordinating company events, company happy hours, or other in-person events like holiday parties, it’s much different in a virtual setting than in person. Arranging any caterers, finding any spaces or locations, or gathering all the personnel has changed to finding a universal time to gather through a video conference or virtual setting.
Human Resource teams are often tasked with handling disputes within the company when it comes to personnel or employees. When two people get into a disagreement, see things differently, or feel affected by another one, they often get HR involved. Handling these disputes in person is much different than through a video conference or video chat. Getting two people on the same page or getting the specifics of the situation has gone from an in-person meeting or sit-down to a phone call, email, or video conference. It’s much different handling conflicts between personnel or two people without being in person.
When new employees are integrated or incorporated into the company, the human resources teams are often the ones tasked with helping onboard new employees or new personnel. The process of onboarding takes explaining and walking each employee through all the systems, processes, and procedures of the company. In today’s time, a lot of this is transmitted through information packets or resources, phone calls, or videoconferences It’s definitely a bit out of the norm to join a new company without visiting the office or meeting new employees in person, but incorporating the new employees into the company still needs to continue for human resource teams, even if meeting in person or in an office environment isn’t an option.
Another aspect that’s changed for HR departments during working from home phenomenon is the process of hiring or interviewing potential candidates. In the past, with multiple rounds, multiple interviews, and a typical recruiting process, there’s often been in-person meetings or settings. The people in charge of adjusting the process or changing the format of the interview is primarily the HR team. Shifting the interviews to virtual formats or digital settings eliminates the ability to have in-person interviews and meeting potential candidates.
Depending on the company and the benefits they offer, explaining and communicating the different packages, options, and resources that are available to company personnel or employees is another task that HR departments primarily handle. Walking employees through the different benefit packages available and finding the options that best suit the employee’s needs are different for each employee, and at each company. Helping guide new employees through phone calls, emails, or video conferences to select the benefits packages that match their needs, and the wants they’re looking to address through the company’s benefits packages and offerings
Conclusion
Throughout the world, companies have had to adjust to the times we’re in, as well as their human resources departments. With lots of their functions predicated on in-person communications and environments, switching to a virtual setting has impacted a lot of the function’s human resources personnel handle on a day to day basis. Arranging and dispersing the necessary hardware or software’s for employees to continue their work at home is a task human resource teams might be tasked with. Without the necessary equipment or essentials, employees will have a tough time maintaining a high level of productivity and performance of their daily tasks. Keeping the company connected through the company’s culture and its events is something that’s moved to a virtual setting during this time. The virtual setting and events have a different feel and not as personal as in-person ones.
Managing employee disputes or disagreements is another task that’s changed for human resource people, as it’s gone from an in-person conversation or discussion to a video conference or setting. Onboarding new employees often take lots of time and training to get them up and running and acclimated to the work environment they’re joining. Teaching through training videos, information packets, or other practice resources has had to replace the in-person learning or training that many companies have in place and new employees receive.
Interviewing candidates or the hiring process is another aspect that’s changed for HR departments during this time. The in-person interviews or several rounds have most likely transitioned to digital interviews, digital tests, or into digital settings. Helping employees or new hires with the benefit packages or the benefits offered by a company is another task that’s shifted to video conferences or phone conversations. It’ll be interesting to see the type of effects the working from home phenomenon has on the company’s corporate finances and the way that human resources costs or expenditures have changed as well. All in all, HR departments and their operations have significantly changed during the working from phenomenon many businesses and people are currently adjusting to.
