Covid-19: This Crisis has Demonstrated the Critical Importance of the HR Function to Business.

Over the last few weeks business has faced unprecedented challenges. No one could have predicted how the opening months of 2020 would unravel. Every business has been forced to radically adapt and evolve to try to survive the cloud of uncertainty that COVID-19 has cast over the economy.

An instantaneous serious challenge to all business continuity, productivity and viability, with longer term questions posed around business strategy, operations, employee engagement, communication and a whole host of issues consequentially.

We are just starting to realise some of the mid and long term implications of the changes that will come. Some are continuing threats, but also some potentially show opportunity.

Business will need to evolve at a faster rate than it ever has done.

One of the points that I think it is worth recognising is just how important a role the HR / People function has taken in the immediate days and weeks that have followed the start of this crisis.

HR has taken a critical and central role in business continuity, to enable people to work from home, to look at employee engagement and communication strategies, to look at immediate organisational design, to redeploy, furlough, suspend or terminate contracts.

The HR function has shown just how critical its importance is during this crisis. This importance has been visible to all and should lead to an increased standing within all business leadership strategy into the future.

When the dust finally settles and we reflect on this time, HR should be very proud of how it has reacted and enabled so many businesses to survive. Obviously several thousands of companies across the World will not make it through this period, but I do think that the swift actions and capability of the HR function has enabled many companies that would have otherwise have perished, or had to lose even more staff, to have had a fighting chance to survive this crisis and hopefully be able to recover and grow once more.

Many times do we read and talk about the purpose of the HR function, what it should be, how it should be structured. I have some thoughts around this, but what I do believe is that the function itself is the most important business function and it has demonstrated that during this crisis. I genuinely believe that.

People are everything within business, an obvious statement, but it is true. So, yes it's right to debate what HR should be and how HR should do it, but hopefully now this crisis has definitively shown that however HR is structured, and however HR titles itself, that the HR function is truly business critical.

As we move through and on from this crisis, surely there will be a time soon where we will be able to confidently pose an increased business case for investment in the function having demonstrated the fundamental value and return that a strong HR function brings?

Working through this period I have been incredibly impressed with the diligence, effort and skill that my clients have shown to navigate this time.

I'd be very interested in people's thoughts and comments.

Next week on the 20th May 2020 from 11am-12pm GMT we will be hosting a special live Business Transformation 'Erupt' event. Please feel free to join us as we discuss how to 'Adapt and Thrive'.

Please register below, the recording will also be available to download afterwards.

Please do contact me if I can ever be of assistance.

I am a co-founder of Annapurna Recruitment (www.annapurnarecruitment.com) and lead our HR executive search practice, and also facilitate the Business Transformation Network (www.thebtn.tv) which aims to be the home for Business Transformation Content, Events and Networking.

James

Contact me @

J.Ballard@Annapurnarecruitment.com

@jamesannapurna