Adapting Employee Engagement Strategies Amid Crisis: Insights from the COVID-19 Pandemic

Title

Adapting Employee Engagement Strategies Amid Crisis: Insights from the COVID-19 Pandemic

Creator

George S.; Thomas P.

Description

Crises are unpredictable events that have the potential to strike at any moment, causing significant disruptions to work, daily routines, and the normal course of life. The COVID-19 Pandemic served as a facilitator for transformative changes in the way we work, shifting to an era of remote and flexible work arrangements across industries. This crisis underlined the importance of employee engagement and organizational culture-building in navigating unforeseen situations. As organizations prepare for the future, it becomes crucial to anticipate and adapt to potential crises that may arise. The effect of the pandemic varied from industry to industry. When the technology industry worked towards creating a virtual workspace, the production industry strived to continue production without disruption. However, irrespective of the industry, HR teams across the board were dedicated to identifying and addressing the challenges posed by the crisis. They have worked tirelessly to ensure employee engagement remains a priority. This qualitative study explores the challenges encountered by HR teams during the pandemic and explores the strategies and policies they adopted to foster employee engagement. The data was collected through an in-depth interview with 39 HR Practitioners from different industries. The significant challenges included the need to cultivate a sense of community, navigate muddled up HR processes, sustain productivity amid disruptions, and prioritize employee wellness. To provide a comprehensive analysis, this study examined industry-specific approaches, employing within-case analysis to understand key strategies in communication, rewards and recognition, employee benefits, wellness initiatives, and fostering an enjoyable virtual workplace. This study offers a forward-looking perspective and serves as a guide for organizations aiming to thrive in times of uncertainty, ensuring that employee engagement remains a strategic priority regardless of the crisis at hand. 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Source

Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal

Date

2023-01-01

Publisher

Springer

Subject

Crisis; Employee Engagement; Employer Perspective; The Pandemic

Coverage

George S., Department of Sociology and Social Work, Christ (Deemed to be) University, Hosur Road, Karnataka, Bangalore, India; Thomas P., Department of Sociology and Social Work, Christ (Deemed to be) University, Hosur Road, Karnataka, Bangalore, India

Rights

Restricted Access

Relation

ISSN: 8927545

Format

Online

Language

English

Type

Article

Identifier

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10672-023-09484-z

https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85178918189&doi=10.1007%2fs10672-023-09484-z&partnerID=40&md5=df07e7c4a0688d7106be733087a34ba0