The coronavirus outbreak has proven just how central work is to all our lives. Not only does work give us financial security and a sense of purpose and belonging, this crisis has also reminded us how much we all rely on the work of others – be it healthcare professionals, retail staff, delivery drivers or the myriad of other key workers that are risking their lives to keep the rest of us healthy, well fed and safe. It has also reminded us that we go to work for so much more than to do the job, we go for the friendships, the company and the sense of belonging and the general feeling that we do better work as part of a team.
There’s also another team of unsung heroes behind the scenes – the HR teams that are working hard across Wales to keep workers safe, paid and supported to do their best in these challenging times.
The crisis is a huge test for business agility and is bringing new meaning to the idea of ‘good work’ that the CIPD has been supporting for so long. We have seen huge numbers of people working from home for the first time, changing shift patterns to accommodate childcare responsibilities and even re-skilling to fill essential roles. Employers are beginning to look at outputs and delivery rather than ‘time spent’ and the culture of presenteeism evident in so many workplaces is being overshadowed.
Over a week into government lockdown, many of us are asking ‘Is this the new normal?’
The social and economic impact of this outbreak will be felt for months, probably even years. In terms of the people management industry, there will be a legacy of positive actions that government and employers have made that will change working lives for the better.
If any time was going to refocus our attention on the ‘people’ that make up our workforces, it is this. This is a wakeup call for businesses across the country to put people’s health, well-being, families and financial security first.
Wales as a nation is geographically spread out, there are people who travel huge distances to get to work each day. There is also the Cardiff bias that exists for so many businesses with colleagues from across the country having to make the long trip to the capital for meetings and events. Will this all change post Coronavirus as businesses wake up to the fact that so much can be done effectively remotely and that if you remove the stressful commute from an employees’ day, they actually become more productive?
In rationing this time spent in work, people will come to value the time they physically spend with colleagues more. Time management will improve, and people will value the contribution of others so much more.
This is an opportunity for the HR profession, business and society to prove what we’re made of and where our priorities lie. It’s vital we all play our part to minimise the impact of this global event on work and working lives – and maximise any positive legacy it could leave. Placing trust in the HR profession’s insights and expertise is more important than ever.