The world has gone remote, and so has the workforce. With the pandemic situation forcing many employees to work from home, companies are scrambling to ensure business continuity while keeping their employees safe. While the shift to remote work may have its benefits, it also poses significant challenges for companies in terms of managing their employees. This is where the importance of HR comes into play. In this article, we’ll discuss why HR is still vital in the age of remote working.

Maintaining Company Culture

One of the most significant challenges of remote work is the potential loss of company culture. When employees are no longer working in a physical office, it can be difficult to maintain a sense of shared values, beliefs, and practices. This can be a major issue for companies, which often place a strong emphasis on teamwork and collaboration.

HR can play a crucial role in maintaining company culture in the age of remote work. In fact, it’s even worth looking into completing a Masters in HR to help you reach out to remote employees and keep the culture in check. This can include virtual team-building activities, regular check-ins with employees, and establishing communication channels that encourage collaboration.

Managing Remote Workers

Managing remote workers can be a challenge, especially if you’re not used to working with them. Without the ability to check in on employees in person, it can be difficult to ensure that they’re staying on task and meeting their goals. HR can help by developing policies and procedures that outline expectations for remote workers, such as guidelines for communication, tracking work hours, and reporting progress.

HR can also provide training and support for managers who are supervising remote workers. This can include coaching on effective communication strategies, tips for managing remote teams, and guidance on how to handle performance issues.

Ensuring Compliance with Employment Laws

Employment laws can be complex and ever-changing, and it can be difficult for companies to stay on top of all the requirements. This is especially true in the age of remote work, where employees may be working from different locations and jurisdictions. HR can play a vital role in ensuring compliance with employment laws, by keeping up-to-date with changes to legislation and implementing policies and procedures that are in line with legal requirements.

HR can also provide support to managers and employees who may have questions about employment laws, such as requirements for overtime pay, sick leave entitlements, and workplace health and safety regulations for working at home. By ensuring compliance with employment laws, HR can help protect the company from potential legal issues and fines.

Supporting Employee Wellbeing

Remote work can have a significant impact on employee well-being, especially in terms of mental health. Without the social support and interaction that comes with working in an office, employees may feel isolated and disconnected. HR can play a crucial role in supporting employee well-being by implementing initiatives that promote work-life balance, mental health, and employee engagement.

This can include initiatives such as flexible work arrangements, mental health support services, and employee wellness programs. By supporting employee well-being, HR can help ensure that employees are happy and healthy, which can have a positive impact on productivity and overall business performance.

Building a Strong Employer Brand

In a post-pandemic world, building a strong employer brand is more important than ever. A strong employer brand can help attract top talent, retain existing employees, and differentiate your company from competitors, along with meeting your sales targets.

HR can play a vital role in building a strong employer brand by developing and implementing initiatives that showcase the company’s culture, values, and mission. This can include initiatives such as employee testimonials, social media campaigns, and community involvement. While building your brand, HR can help ensure that the company is seen as an attractive place to work, which can have a positive impact on recruitment and retention.

All of these facets of remote work illustrate just how vital HR is in the modern age. HR can help maintain company culture, manage remote workers, ensure compliance with employment laws, support employee wellbeing, and build a strong employer brand. With the rise of remote work, HR must adapt and develop new strategies to meet the unique challenges posed by this new working environment.