In the midst of a pandemic, the physical and mental health of employees will be the primary concern for many businesses that have struggled during the shutdown and that have operated with a depleted workforce. “The health and well-being of employees for many companies was seen as a nice-to-have,” says Arianna Huffington, co-founder of The Huffington Post and founder and CEO of Thrive Global. Huffington's behavior change tech company has collaborated with HR leaders during the pandemic.
“Now more than ever, [employee health and well-being] is essential for the success of an organization, and that’s why HR leaders have such a critical role to play,” she adds.
Stress will be a real issue as more and more employees return to work. Ellyn Shook, chief leadership and human resources officer at Accenture, says HR leaders have an opportunity to go beyond what was considered “normal.”
“For modern HR leaders, this has been an accelerant to create a blueprint for the future of work, rethink the social contract and drive even greater value for our people, businesses and communities,” Shook said. “And, for those HR leaders who are less progressive, it’s an important catalyst to begin to create a resilient organization that is prepared for whatever the future holds.“