Effects of Covid-19 on Human Resource Management From the Perspective of Digitalization and Work-Life-Balance

Abstract

Extraordinary changes caused by COVID-19 have enforced companies around the globe to accelerate transition to digital business processes. Human resource management (HRM) is in the heart of these transformations helping organizations to navigate in the vague present and unforeseeable future. HRM needs to manage people in companies during the crisis in order to enable business continuity and ensure work-life balance. Since the future will bring more flexible, remote-friendly, digital working norms, the changes in policies, processes, workspaces, collaboration systems, and employee wellness are of increasingly urgent importance.The paper discusses the challenges HRM is facing due to the current crisis in terms of remote working, and identifies the implications the pandemic has on human resources. The expert interviews conducted in Georgia indicate that HRM should consider ways to develop new policies for hybrid working models as a response to the current pandemic crisis.

Impact of Covid-19 on the Future of HR in India's Service Sector

“…During the pandemic, the role of HR emerged as a helping body or a representative of the organization which can be approached in case of COVID or medical claim related issues or queries arise. HR also worked to create an open communication channel through mails, phone calls, video sessions, webinars and the focus was to satisfy the workforce and keep them assured for sense of belongingness from the organization (Gigauri, 2020;Lewis, 2020). Another strategy that emerged to cope up with the communication gap is having a people-centric approach towards human resource management wherein HR managers and different team leaders can have activity based sessions or open discussion forums to discuss the various types of psychological or social transitions that employee must be going through (UNDP, 2020;WHO, 2016).…”

“…Human resources management (HRM) practices helps businesses in gaining a competitive advantage by maximizing employee performance and productivity (Rakowska, 2014). In today's digitalized world, although HRM practices have been drastically upgraded, the outbreak of COVID-19 has forced organizations to accelerate the integration of digitalization in HRM too (Gigauri, 2020). HR professionals are an important facet in liaising, communicating, motivating and managing the workforce in an aligned manner for minimizing COVID crisis impact and maximization of manpower utilization.…”

“…Most of the firms have moved to remote working but long-term commitment in remote working is a challenge. Further, need of training for enhancing technical skills, and supporting organizations by directing their efforts towards business processes added more defiance (Gigauri, 2020).…”

The Concept of Improvements in Management of Public Administration Officials Working from Home in Selected Educational Units

“…Since the future will bring more flexible, remote-friendly, digital working norms, the changes in policies, processes, workspaces, collaboration systems, and employee wellness are of increasingly urgent importance (Gigauri, 2020).…”

Work-Li̇fe Balance During Covid-19

“…Beklenmedik, öngörülemeyen COVID-19 süreci, kurumları dijital süreçlere zorunlu kılmıştır. Gigauri (2020) çalışmasında iki noktaya dikkat çekmektedir. İlki, bu dijital geçiş sürecinde işin devamlılığı ve iş yaşam dengesinin sağlanmasında insan kaynakları yönetimine büyük görev düşmektedir.…”