{"id":11171,"date":"2020-12-30T07:38:51","date_gmt":"2020-12-30T12:38:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/business\/?p=11171"},"modified":"2023-04-18T14:10:00","modified_gmt":"2023-04-18T18:10:00","slug":"valuing-hr-during-the-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/business\/valuing-hr-during-the-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"Valuing HR During the Pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Reflecting on a most difficult year, my team and I came up with one silver lining.\u00a0 We have been very fortunate\u00a0to work\u00a0in a field\u00a0that is needed by\u00a0employers and employees\u00a0alike.\u00a0With the closing of businesses, the NY phases, testing mandates, cleaning protocols, remote workers,\u00a0dire\u00a0communications,\u00a0and employees filled with\u00a0fear and anxiety, businesses\u00a0have\u00a0relied on HR more than ever.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, the sales team uses a phrase all the time.\u00a0 It goes, \u201cEveryone needs us.\u00a0 They may not know it yet, but they all need us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Many\u00a0people\u00a0commented\u00a0on how the pandemic made us slow down.\u00a0 It gave us an opportunity to appreciate each other and it allowed\u00a0us to spend more time with family.<\/p>\n<p>For business, there was a heighten awareness of how important people were to their\u00a0organizations.\u00a0\u00a0Businesses\u00a0began to turn to HR as the guiding source of\u00a0pandemic-related\u00a0information.\u00a0 They relied on HR to:<\/p>\n<ul role=\"list\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-listid=\"1\">Explain and implement furloughs versus layoffs<\/li>\n<li role=\"listitem\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-listid=\"1\">Prepare associated\u00a0termination\u00a0paperwork to employees<\/li>\n<li role=\"listitem\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-listid=\"1\">Process final pays and unemployment paperwork<\/li>\n<li role=\"listitem\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-listid=\"1\">Communicate stop the spread and testing protocols<\/li>\n<li role=\"listitem\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"5\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-listid=\"1\">Train managers to manage a remote workforce<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul role=\"list\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-listid=\"1\">Map out the determination of exempt versus non-exempt status<\/li>\n<li role=\"listitem\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-listid=\"1\">Implement performance measures to determine telework outcomes<\/li>\n<li role=\"listitem\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-listid=\"1\">Process and administer\u00a0employee on and off of benefit plans<\/li>\n<li role=\"listitem\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-listid=\"1\">Determine who\u00a0are\u00a0essential workers<\/li>\n<li role=\"listitem\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"5\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-listid=\"1\">Know how to perform an impartial, fact-finding internal investigation\u00a0during a pandemic<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul role=\"list\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-listid=\"1\">Process, certify, and\u00a0determine a qualified\u00a0reason for\u00a0leave<\/li>\n<li role=\"listitem\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-listid=\"1\">Understand and implement new federal and state employment laws<\/li>\n<li role=\"listitem\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-listid=\"1\">Communicate all the various new forms of leave\u00a0to employees<\/li>\n<li role=\"listitem\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-listid=\"1\">Deal with employee conflicts and mediation\u00a0during a pandemic<\/li>\n<li role=\"listitem\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"5\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-listid=\"1\">Answer\u00a0employees\u00a0questions and concerns\u00a0regarding COVID<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul role=\"list\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-listid=\"1\">Mediate political and racial differences<\/li>\n<li role=\"listitem\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-listid=\"1\">Supply ways\u00a0for employees to\u00a0deal with stress and anxiety<\/li>\n<li role=\"listitem\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-listid=\"1\">Process and prepare employees\u00a0returning to work<\/li>\n<li role=\"listitem\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-listid=\"1\">Build and administer a system to approve or deny reasonable accommodations<\/li>\n<li role=\"listitem\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"5\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-listid=\"1\">Administer mandates\u00a0such as\u00a0sexual harassment training\u00a0in a pandemic<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul role=\"list\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-listid=\"1\">Know when to place an employee on a performance improvement plan versus discipline<\/li>\n<li role=\"listitem\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-listid=\"1\">Keep up with multi-state laws because remote workers may now work in difference states<\/li>\n<li role=\"listitem\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-listid=\"1\">Measure engagement and alignment with culture<\/li>\n<li role=\"listitem\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-level=\"1\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-listid=\"1\">Determine external and internal compensation benchmarks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>All of this\u00a0has supported our argument that\u00a0good\u00a0HR cannot be performed effectively and efficiently by\u00a0non-HR professionals.\u00a0\u00a0The depth, breadth, and scope of what we do is overwhelming\u00a0to\u00a0most.<\/p>\n<p>Would you have your payroll provider call an employee about their sick family member?\u00a0 Would you ask your insurance broker to train a manager\u00a0on how to\u00a0ensure employees are actually working?\u00a0 Would you ask your Controller to\u00a0mediate conflicts between two departments?\u00a0 Would your Office Manager know how to make accommodation determination?\u00a0 Do any of these individuals have a grasp of the various\u00a0employment\u00a0laws that impact employers with employees who\u00a0now\u00a0live in\u00a0various States?<\/p>\n<p>If these individuals convince senior management they can perform HR in addition to their day jobs, it\u00a0should be a\u00a0red flag\u00a0what their day job is.\u00a0\u00a0 Perhaps they aren\u2019t doing well in their day jobs?<\/p>\n<p>What I know is the time, energy and dedication it takes to be an HR professional.\u00a0\u00a0 I have always been very respectful of other professions.\u00a0 I pride myself in knowing when to call a CPA, an attorney or an insurance broker to leverage their\u00a0expertise.<\/p>\n<p>That is why my team asks for the same level of respect.\u00a0 For many years, HR has been marginalized and minimized as a support function that can be given or taken.\u00a0 Contrary to these opinions, this year was a shining example of the value of a solid, qualified HR delivery system.\u00a0 We are very proud of how we have responded to\u00a02020\u2019s challenges and how HR\u00a0has earned the respect of many in the business community.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Reflecting on a most difficult year, my team and I came up with one silver lining.\u00a0 We have been very fortunate\u00a0to work\u00a0in a field\u00a0that is needed by\u00a0employers and employees\u00a0alike.\u00a0With the closing of businesses, the NY phases, testing mandates, cleaning protocols, remote workers,\u00a0dire\u00a0communications,\u00a0and employees filled with\u00a0fear and anxiety, businesses\u00a0have\u00a0relied on HR more than ever. In fact, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":10844,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[266],"tags":[],"post_folder":[268],"class_list":["post-11171","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-consulting-services"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11171","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11171"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11171\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11172,"href":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11171\/revisions\/11172"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10844"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11171"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11171"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11171"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gtm.com\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=11171"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}