Editor’s note: ADP Canada (Groupe CNW/ADP Canada Co.) recently published a new constant on the role of HR in times of pandemic.
Our human capital expert at Amyot Gélinas, Marie-Louise Tassé, agrees, reminding us of the importance, now more than ever, of good human resources management within the company.
Hiring, recruiting and distributing paychecks – these are just some of the tasks that come to mind when we think of human resources (HR), but HR teams do much more than that. If you’re like most Canadians, you may not be aware of the growing complexities and challenges facing today’s HR professionals. A new study by ADP Canada and Maru/Blue reveals that more than a third of Canadian workers surveyed have no idea how HR fills their days. While more than half of respondents acknowledge that the role of their HR team has become more challenging during the pandemic, a certain lack of understanding remains regarding the complexity and importance of their role.
Unsurprisingly, the survey, which compared the views of Canadian workers and HR professionals, also revealed that 61% of HR professionals felt their role had become more challenging during the pandemic. According to HR professionals, the new challenges brought on by COVID-19 include protecting the health and well-being of employees, maintaining business continuity, and keeping a watchful eye on rapidly changing policies. More than half of HR professionals surveyed also identified the transition to remote working and support for employee mental health as significant challenges. With these new challenges, 43% of HR professionals feel that their role has changed as a result of COVID-19.
“I fully agree that the role of human resources professionals will be changing over the coming months and years,” says Marie-Louise Tassé, our Capital Consultant at Amyot Gélinas. “That’s why it’s increasingly important for companies to take advantage of sound human capital advice to optimize employee retention. At Amyot Gélinas, our expertise in human capital has enabled several companies to ensure the longevity of their employees, thus ensuring a certain stability within the first wave without too many hitches.
While most Canadians believe that HR’s core functions include recruiting and hiring, overseeing payroll and benefits, and long-term staffing, less than half of respondents recognize that responsibilities such as performance appraisal and workplace policy creation, training of new and existing employees, performance recognition, and scheduling fall under HR’s purview. With this in mind, it’s not surprising that 48% of Canadians don’t know how their organization would be affected if HR suddenly left.
“The role of HR has become increasingly challenging in recent months. Yet a lack of understanding and knowledge about the importance of their functions remains in this country. The role of HR professionals is more than just recruiting and payroll: HR is essential to creating a positive work culture, maintaining employee engagement and ensuring the success of every organization,” says Heather Haslam, Vice President of Marketing at ADP Canada. The role of HR professionals is multi-faceted and requires individuals who are caring, diligent and insightful; able to address both short- and long-term issues with strategic solutions. At ADP, we recognize that the role of HR is constantly evolving, and we strive to design a better world of work for HR teams and employees alike, to ensure that their hard work and diligent efforts are recognized.”
To reach Marie-Louise Tassé, CRIA, D.E.S.S.
Telephone: 450 971 1550 ext. 3501
Cell: 450 419 2159
Toll-free: 1 877 326 3400
Related links:
http://www.adp.ca
SOURCE ADP Canada Co.
