COVID-19’s Birthday: 5 Ways HR Pros Should be Dubiously Optimistic 

By Sonya Weathers

One year ago, businesses, churches, and schools began closing and events were getting canceled because of the Coronavirus. As we head toward COVID’s first birthday as a pandemic in the states, our organizations have changed significantly in the way we do business. While the past year has been tough, we’ve learned some valuable lessons in staying open and profitable, and in keeping ourselves, our employees, and our customers safe and healthy. While none of us are throwing a one-year pandemic party, here are 7 ways HR pros should be dubiously optimistic: 

HR Can Handle Anything

If someone had told you in 2019 that your company could bob and weave the way COVID required, would you have believed them? The list of HR’s flexibility in 2020 is endless. Work from home.  Wear a mask at work. Monitor temperatures. Perform different work tasks temporarily.  Meet virtually. Send exposed employees home. Find a way to hire people without meeting them in person. This list is a rundown of HR’s bragging rights. Adapting decisively shows a company’s agility in challenging times. If your company is still operating, you managed it successfully. 

You Plan to Succeed, and Succeed by Planning

The old adage “Fail to plan, plan to fail” is a bit negative, so we turned it around. As we barrel toward COVID’s birthday, we see the importance of a solid, cohesive plan that includes forward-thinking alternatives. Businesses that had a game plan were miles ahead of the ones that believed “it will never happen to us” when the pandemic first exploded. HR managers should feel energized in the wake of the pandemic, knowing they are well-prepared to create and execute a plan that encompasses unforeseen obstacles. 

HR Proved their Leadership Abilities

2020 was no time for weak or unsure leadership. If ever there was a test to HR’s creativity and tenacity, it’s been the last 12 months. Proactively responding to COVID-19’s demands resulted in putting your company ahead of the game. Companies lacking strong leadership suffered big, with many failing to hang on. HR should use these past actions to formulate future directives and processes. Are there certain employees who struggled with handling the pandemic successfully? Where was leadership sluggish, vague, or missing? On the other hand, who were the shining stars? Who offered good ideas, thoughtful insights, and the work ethic it took to make the changes a reality?

Technology Is Our Friend

When COVID-19 smashed business norms into smithereens, smart HR pros realized the need for powerful technology tools to bridge the gaps. Virtual environments allowed employees to work from home with little disruption or down time, and a slew of other tools tracked progress and helped serve clients. When businesses began re-opening, technology played a pivotal role then, too. Restaurants used QR codes for menus instead of printed ones and hotels used apps that allowed for contact-less check in.  Companies brought employees back to work by using applications that measured their risk of exposure and tracked their temperatures. HR’s ability to creatively utilize digital solutions kept employees and organizations functioning and allowed for a safe return to worksites across the country. Today, we are even more confident in trusting technology to help solve difficult problems than we were a year ago. These advancements, especially the mobile technology that was implemented, are the most likely to remain in place after the pandemic. 

The Future Is Bright

While COVID-19 has been a public health disaster, the vaccines are flowing, and we hope the worst is behind us. HR Pros can look forward to a workforce that is loyal, dedicated, and appreciative of their jobs. In addition, portions of the health and safety protocols that have been implemented might remain for the foreseeable future. Hiring processes, whether virtual or in-person, can ramp up as the economy grows and begins expanding. 

The C-Suite leaned on HR for guidance during 2020 and into 2021. Who knows? The pandemic could be just the issue that solidifies your permanent seat at the table. Whatever the outcome, HR can look down the road with hope and optimism, and a new sense of confidence in their individual ability to perform and adapt successfully.