HR as the First Responder: Lessons about Fighting the Coronavirus

Written By: Vikas Dua

Lessons for the HR fraternity from the Heroes of the War against the Coronavirus

At the frontline of the war against the Coronavirus pandemic have been thousands of health, security and support workers. While the regulatory and administration teams have been in the background, it has been these warriors who have taken on the onerous task of tackling this unseen enemy, head on.

Striding into their place of work, often without the essential PPE (Personal  Protective Equipment), they have cautiously proceeded to execute their duties, knowing fully well that each minute on the job exposes them to a risk that could be fatal, not only to them but to many others including their own families.

One can only conjecture as to what motivates them in this manner? Unlike the security forces who are aware, right from the time that they decided to serve their nation, that they could one day, be head to head with the enemy, none of the others would have possibly ever imagined  such a scenario.  

So, what is it that gets them to scrub in and get onto with the job day after day, even as the battle rages globally? For the doctor, some may argue that perhaps it is due to the ‘Hippocratic Oath’ they have taken at the start of their study of medicine, to treat the ill to the best of their ability. But surely, it takes more than an oath. And, what about others in industries like Airlines and services like Facilities Management who don’t have such an ingrained and standardised practice, that is known of?

My view is that it is the singular reason for this is the desire to serve – the passion to not let down the very folks who are dependent on them for their well being. This approach drives them to put others before self and focus single-mindedly on their mission, much like an astronaut who blasts off into space to further human exploration, leaving his world far behind, with the knowledge that he may never be back, should there be a mishap.

So, when it comes to the world of commerce and business, what can the HR fraternity learn from these selfless individuals? Clearly, there are lessons for us and here are some of those – 

1. Lead from the Front – For the corporate world, the HR teams will have to be the ‘First Responders’. Due to the panic and confusion caused by the pandemic, employees have concerns as they stare towards an uncertain future, even as Government and business leaders attempt to figure out the impact of the pandemic over the short, medium and long-terms. HR practitioners will have to take pre-emptive steps forward and assuage these concerns in a proactive, structured manner, even as the developments unfold.
2. Be Empathetic – The lives of employees are being impacted at multiple levels – personal and professional, both. On one hand, entire industries such as the Airlines, Hospitality and Conferencing look down at a bleak future at least in the near future, employees working in such industries have personal financial commitments such as rentals and EMIs to pay on an ongoing basis. Only the most conservative would have been prepared for such a ‘rainy day’. Many amongst us may have a loved one working at the frontlines as part of the essential services, exposing themselves to the coronavirus danger, day after day. Therefore, HR folks will need to be empathetic when they interact with employees as they face tense moments.
3. Innovate on the Fly – The famous military quote sums it up very succinctly – ‘No strategy survives first contact with the enemy’. Along similar lines, possibly, no HR team has been coached for such an eventuality. In the world of critical healthcare, medical staff have innovated with medical treatments in the absence of a known vaccine for the coronavirus, with some reports of success. Along similar lines, HR personnel will need to innovate and work with other stakeholders to ensure that the financial impact is minimised to the maximum extent possible.
4. Personalise, not Standardise – Treatments for those who have been stricken by the coronavirus are personalised basis multiple factors including their age, severity of the infection, prior medical history and more. In this age of standardisation, HR leaders will have to bear in mind that employees impacted by the economic impact of this crisis, will also have to be dealt with in a personalised manner. While this is no easy task by any measure, it can make a substantial difference in how employees move forward and remain engaged with the organisation. One of the main realisations from this crisis is that chasing materialistic lifestyles isn’t of any major consequence in the long-term; health is paramount. HR teams that come across as being genuinely concerned about their workforce will create affinity for the brand in the minds of those working with them.
5. Communicate with Transparency –  At a time like this, unfortunately, rumours also gain credence fueled by the apprehension of the multitudes.  We have all witnessed the daily briefings being held by Heads of State in some countries, or regular updates shared by bodies such as WHO (World Health Organisation). Along similar lines, colleagues in the HR function also need to ensure that timely information regarding the supportive steps being taken by their organisation is shared so that employees are prepared well enough for the disruptions expected going forward. 
6. Guide and Coach – Over the last few months, health professionals have guided millions of people on the correct way to wash their hands and to practice social distancing – acts that can control the spread of the harmful coronavirus and save lives. In the world of business, there is no doubt that the dynamics will change. While some roles will shrink, new ones will emerge. It will then rest on the shoulders of HR leaders to help those displaced, to pick up new skills and new direction for themselves, so that they can build stronger careers going forward.

In this way, the HR community will need to rise to the occasion. The rapid, global spread of this virus has caused changes in thought, lifestyles and practices. Even as humanity recalibrates and charts out a new optimum framework to define ‘success’, HR professionals across the world should aim to redefine the very basics of the science and art of ‘Human Resource Management’, viz. to design the strategic approach to maximise employee performance in a company or organization such that they help their business gain a competitive advantage. 

In what other ways, can HR professionals step up to the challenge? I’d love to hear your views. Do connect with me on LinkedIn (vikas.dua) or drop me an email at vykas.dua@gmail.com.

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About the Author:

Vikas Dua is an accomplished HR and recruitment professional with over 15 years of experience in the field, having worked with both start-ups and large corporations like Wipro, Concentrix and Startek Aegis, driving hiring in the APAC region. Currently, he is Chief HR Mentor at Attayn.co—a disruptive HR Tech firm working on enhancing and democratizing knowledge sharing in the academic space. A TEDx Speaker, Vikas is also an active Vlogger and Blogger, who shares insights under his self-designed ‘HR in my Heart’ brand umbrella.