Workforce Strategies For Navigating in The Post-Pandemic Era - HR.com

Here are a few things you and your team should consider

2021 is in full swing, and with many hoping for change this year, we are still preoccupied with the circumstances that Covid-19 has brought upon us in 2020. Protocols, restrictions, social distancing measures, and other limitations still remain to some degree. However, for many businesses, there can be positive takeaways from the experiences Covid-19 has presented us with.
 

The pandemic has shaken businesses to the core, opening the doors to new thought processes. Although we may not be able to predict what’s next, planning for the future is an essential part of maintaining productivity and success.

As we now enter a new realm after Covid-19, here are some things you and your team should consider.

It can be difficult to find positives within an unfortunate and difficult time. However, there is an overall awareness of the setbacks countless people are facing. This is a unique opportunity to take advantage of, as we may never experience such a worldly impact again in our lifetime.

Take this time to break down your business practices to assess the current structure of your organization. With a lull in social activity and interaction, now is a great time to eliminate outdated approaches that are holding your organization back from accomplishing newly set goals. As you build a new business plan, narrow down the employee skillsets you believe will lead your business towards the goals you have set. Many talented and capable individuals were laid off during the pandemic, leaving the pool of potential hires, large and abundant with talent.

Covid-19 has resulted in an increase in the number of remote workers that now work from home or in some other remote capacity. For some, working from home presented challenges, stemming from a lack of preparedness to migrate into a remote setting. For others, remote work has been a benefit to organizations as they have found ways to remain efficient and profitable during these times.

According to Forbes, remote workers are 35-40% more productive than their office counterparts and organizations have seen 21% higher profitability from making the shift to working from home. 

Take a close look at how remote work has impacted your business and its bottom line — if it’s proven successful, you may not want to shy away from it just yet. Instead, weigh its pros and cons, collect employee feedback and do your due diligence before making any decisions. While it soon may be safe to return to the physical workplace, ask yourself — is it worth it for my specific business?

With Covid-19 reshaping typical business operations, HR leaders are altering their workforce processes with technology and automation to keep up with today’s complex requirements. Technology can be used to limit the capacity of staff within the workplace with an automated rotating schedule that ensures safety while also verifying that the needs of your business are still met.

Additionally, contact tracing capabilities have now become a feature of most workforce management solutions, supporting department heads who monitor employee interactions––now a critical part of each workday. With heightened awareness around the possible health risk associated with communal devices, many HR leaders are now relying on contactless time clock technology, allowing them to continue accurately tracking employee time and attendance, but eliminating potential contagion.

Identifying the correct path to take in a time where the future is heavily undetermined can be difficult. However, preparedness can still be achieved with the insights and tools presented to us right now. Take advantage of the opportunity to test new business strategies, as everyone is learning how to restructure their business after Covid-19.

Guy DiMemmo is the CEO & Founder of VCS, intelligent workforce management software that simplifies employee scheduling, time & attendance, human resources and payroll for today’s modern workforce. Guy has over 20 years of experience creating software programs to help companies of all sizes, across all industries, control labor costs, manage compliance risk and improve productivity. Visit www.vcssoftware.com   Connect Guy DiMemmo