During a crisis, it's easy to get caught up in decision after decision, but referring back to organisational values has a grounding effect, according to people leaders at Coles and Medibank.
An open and proactive approach to HR strategies ensures employees are engaged, leaders are in touch with their people, the organisation is agile, and it attracts and retains top talent – even in times of crisis – says a people leader.
Coles has shared how it handled recruitment demand escalating by more than five-fold over four weeks at the height of COVID-19's impact on supermarkets.
Among the many workplace changes COVID-19 has sparked is a long overdue shift in the way both employers and employees view sick leave, an HR leader says.
Atlassian has focused on measuring how employees are doing instead of what they're doing during the pandemic, and is now sharing the tools it has developed to communicate and understand where people need support.
Major programs might be on hold but system 'tweaks' and employee support initiatives are helping employers raise their engagement scores despite workplace disruption.
With a headcount freeze in place due to COVID-19, EY is redeploying its talent acquisition staff into HR roles and intensifying its focus on skills mapping, says APAC people advisory services partner Matt Lovegrove.
A taskforce and response teams, weekly roundtables and revamped communication strategies are helping a food manufacturer respond quickly to COVID-19 disruptions, its HR director says.
Having bedded down their new working arrangements, employers that focus on moving their perks and social activities online are reporting their strongest connections yet.
