By Cammie Scott
In a relatively short period of time things have changed dramatically because of COVID-19. Schools are closed, restaurants closed, no gambling in Las Vegas, people are sent home to work and…toilet paper is in short supply. People are stressed. Many are anxious. A few are panicked.
Human Resource professionals are uniquely poised to help people during this crisis. This is the time for them to step up, lead and position themselves as true business partners. They have the training and the skillset for change management. They understand employee needs and how to balance them with company policies. They are used to working with stressed out employees who are in crisis. Now is your time to shine!
What do people need during this time? Paychecks help with physical needs such as food, clothing and shelter. However, people have other needs as well. These non-tangible needs often play a bigger role than many think they do.
In a world filled with social media, with everyone appearing to have it all together, people whose lives are crumbling feel double the stress. They feel as if the world is crashing down around them. For years we have pushed technical skills and forgotten social and interpersonal skills. People have forgotten how to slow down, really listen and interact with one another.
How can you as an HR professional make a difference? Here are 5 ways you can meet peoples’ needs, have a positive impact on workers’ lives and grow your validity as a knowledgeable partner.
- Security – People are afraid. They are afraid they will lose their jobs, afraid they will get sick or a family member will get sick, afraid of chaos in the community. Now is the time to increase your communications. People are hungry to know what is happening. They check social media, have 5 different news stations with alerts, and watch the same news on TV over and over hoping to hear or see something new. People want to know what is happening.
You need to lead the charge in communicating with employees. Tell them the good the bad and the ugly. Tell them you are spending the extra money to clean. Tell them you are in communications discussing plans. Tell them step by step what is happening. Tell them where they fit in the process. Tell them you don’t have all of the answers, but that you care about them and their role in the organization.
- Admiration, Acceptance and Approval – People need to belong. We have a deep need to be a part of a community to be accepted, approved and even admired. Many people have become what they do. They are at one with their job. They cannot imagine a future apart from it and the fact that they could be sent home to work, laid off or even let go scares them immensely. It causes an underlying turmoil that can boil over into their everyday performance.
To combat this identity crisis, we need to begin to communicate and connect with each other on a more personal level. People who feel they no longer belong do things out of desperation. Sometimes, this can be harmful to themselves and others. Take a walk and talk to people. Find out about them personally. Remind them that they are much more than their position there. Let them know that you care. When tensions are high, this could be the thing that saves you or a co-worker.
- Time – People want time more than almost anything. It is the main equalizing force between us all. We can make more money, but we cannot make more time. We all operate within certain time constraints.
For people sent home to work, remind them that they have now gained their commute time back. They can now exercise, read or draw with a child or do that project they have been putting off. For some this may be traumatic as they feed off of the time in the workplace. Get them focused on the future and all the other things they can do.
For people whose kids are out of school or who have an increased workload during this time, share life hacks and tricks that allow you to do things faster. Look for ways to assist them and relieve some of their duties. Think about ways you can integrate technology into streamlining what they do. Offer up resources they can use with children or places they may be able to get help with childcare or meals. Become a resource to them in helping them with their day to day lives.
- Control – Psychologists tell us that people are hoarding food and supplies because it gives them a sense of control. With all the uncertainty of their lives people crave control. They want to know they can control something even if it is only how many rolls of toilet paper they have.
Some people are panicked. Talk to leads, supervisors, and managers and ask them to be on the lookout for these people. Give them some ways to give people a sense of control. Think ways to allow them to make decisions. Get their focus on the future and on the things they can do instead of the things they cannot do. These can be small. Ask them for feedback on an upcoming safety class, which rug style they like better, what shirt color do they like for the upcoming company picnic.
- Escape – People want an escape from the stress of life. People turn to drugs, alcohol or other harmful behaviors as a means of momentary escape and relief. Help employees find ways to have a momentary escape. Teach meditation, have a yoga class, send out a link for a movie at home, put together a list of places they can go on a hike or bike ride and get outside. There are many creative things people can do as an escape and a rest from the daily pressures of life.
Connecting with people, easing their fears and meeting their needs is always the right thing to do. The investment you make today can pay great dividends now and even greater ones later. As word gets out that you are a company who cares about people, recruiting will get easier and employee turnover will be lower and employee loyalty will increase. Now is the time to impact company culture for the better. These are a few of the things you can do now to have a positive impact on employees’ lives as well as a positive impact on the business. The true physical, emotional and financial tolls on people’s lives is yet to be seen. What is clear is that people are hurting and afraid and many are ill equipped to deal with present day circumstances. As an HR professional with specialized training in change and interpersonal relationships, you have the ability to touch their lives.
