A Human Resources Manager’s Role in Times of Crisis

The way we deal with crises, struggles and chaos has been studied repeatedly over time as part of human behavior. Elizabeth Kübler Ross argued that in a crisis, we go through different facets, ranging from denial, anger, sadness and even acceptance. These emotions help to ideally overcome the negative aspects of a situation.

We are currently in the midst of a health crisis and people are making the best possible use of home office. But what about our employees, their feelings and their emotional stability? We cannot ignore that our organizations are made up of people. We count on their skills to achieve results and objectives.

Our employees are facing a crisis, as well, due to a loss of “normal” working conditions. There is a lot of stress and fear, among other emotions ranging from accepting this challenging situation to feelings of resilience and hope. Employees  may experience physical and mental fatigue, loneliness, uncertainty and high anxiety. In a joint statement, ONU agencies expressed concern. They urge employers to consider the well-being of their people, their families and support social preventive measures when possible.

In times of crisis, human resources manager, especially those trained in psychology, have very important roles to play. We must act with responsibility, empathy and adhere to the law. There are methodologies such as systemic coaching. An example of this is the practice created by Bert Hellinger, where the basic premise is to help or accompany the person to overcome their struggles through accurate decision-making and focusing on objectives. Discipline, order, self-control and self-motivation are usually key pieces to move forward and achieve that goal. 

The market needs services and products. However, companies also need to step up to provide a safety net and support. How can this be accomplished? It is precisely through people that companies achieve their objectives. It is the job of the human resources departments to provide employees with the support they require to face fear and to be focused on achieving the necessary results. It is important to face these issues as an empathetic and focused company, working as a team and offering our collaborators the quality support they require.