Employee management after a disruption

The varied effects to employees after a crisis 

Depending on the disruption, there can be a variety of effects to employees. From changes to work hours or conditions to a family matter at home, the well-being of an employee can change in an instant. These disruptions can cause mental and emotional struggles, financial worries, even physical issues. 

A holistic human resource (HR) and employee management strategy can help employees receive the care and support they require when returning to work. 

The importance of employee management 

How employees are managed can greatly affect their development, outputs, health and safety. Management strategies that enhance how an employee performs can help create a more desirable and efficient workplace, also helping to work towards overall business objectives.  

Whether a crisis arose from a business or personal situation, the management strategies, work environment and additional available support can greatly assist an employee when resuming work. 

Managing employees takes a comprehensive approach to HR strategies, including all stages of employment, from recruitment to performance management. An open communication channel between all employees, their management and HR departments are essential to aid effective employee management, especially in challenging times.

International Standards assisting with employee management 

Standards can assist with defining best practice approaches to HR and employee management. Internationally recognised Standards can help guide businesses, regardless of their size. 

ISO 30408 is the international Standard for human resource management and provides guidelines on processes and practices to establish, maintain and improve effective human governance within organisations. This Standard identifies benefits to an organisation that aligns practices with effective human governance, including the ability to respond to organisational and operational needs and anticipate, manage and response to human resource risks. This management approach can also help an organisation develop a work culture which reflects the values it wants. 

Additionally, it is important for a business to focus on human-centredness. This focuses on designs, systems and policies that involves the human perspective throughout the problem-solving process. ISO 27500 can assist with describing values and beliefs that make a business human-centred, identify the benefits as well as the risks for not implementing this approach.  

This International Standard identifies seven principles which indicate a human-centred organisation. These include: 

• Utilise individual differences 

• Shape business objectives with usability and accessibility 

• Assist total system approach and adoption 

• Ensure health, safety, and well-being are business priorities 

• Value employees and create a meaningful work environment 

• Be open and trustworthy 

• Act in socially responsible ways 

Supporting mental workloads 

After the effects of a crisis, maintaining workloads when returning to work can be a struggle for many. Stress can arise from factors including task requirements, workplace conditions, social and organisational factors.  

ISO 10075 relates to the ergonomic principles related to mental workload. These set of International Standards have been designed to help an organisation develop a system that prevents mental strain. Implementing prevention strategies such as ISO 10075 can help employees feel comfortable when returning to work and ease some of the pressures associated with workload and mental strain. 

Focusing on the most important asset 

Many human-centred organisations would argue that employees are the most important asset to a business. Those who prioritise the well-being of their employees can benefit from increased efficiencies, better staff retention, a stronger workplace culture and an overall more resilient business when disruptions arise. 

A management system that nurtures employees, assists their development and prioritises their health and safety can create a seamless transition back to work after the effects of a crisis.