The importance of virtual HR during a pandemic

As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, workforces across the country have been instructed to provide a Covid-19 secure work environment which sets out to limit physical contact between colleagues. By introducing virtual communications into the mix, employees can continue their daily work management and maintain HR records, eliminating the use of physical documents or aged software platforms with limited ability and functionality.

Reducing physical contact through virtual administration

By reducing physical contact through the introduction of intelligent human resources software, you can provide a central hub to employees through which they can submit requests for the attention of senior staff. By bridging the physical gap through virtual means, the end party can approve requests and request for more information using the same lines of communication. By containing the conversation under one platform, the information can be unified and be made easily accessible at a later stage, if required.

In light of the coronavirus pandemic and from a personal health perspective, limiting physical contact works hand in hand with reducing the spread of the virus. In the event of a second lockdown or the enforcement of stricter rules, virtual HR can be accessed remotely. If employees are instructed to work from home, HR services remain widely available, continuing the flow of data through one source, rather than switching between offline systems and online software.

Employee satisfaction and upgrading user experience

The nature of HR resources may include submitting sensitive information, such as an anonymous complaint, medical records and financial data. Using virtual software to carry out such tasks can result in a seamless and safe experience for the employee, creating the image of an approachable employer. By prioritising the user experience through the provision of online HR services, employees can manage their personal affairs and approach senior staff through an established process. Providing online services to submit such requests can result in faster approval from the employer, without the interference of multiple parties which may be the case when submitting a verbal request.

By prioritising your approachability as an employer, this can increase employee satisfaction, therefore increasing employee retention rates. Smooth user experience can play a major role in improving the working lives of employees, upgrading their impression of the business and loyalty to the employer.

Investment in virtual HR and employer satisfaction

By investing in virtual HR services, this can reduce the workload for employers by replacing the process of fulfilling employee requests from all corners, through the likes of emails, verbal conversations and phone calls. Keeping track of requests in priority order may be more time-consuming in this manner, therefore resulting in delays. By housing all HR data under one roof, you can schedule in automatic reminders for the likes of employee appraisals, absence form requests and salary reviews, earning the reputation of a well-organised employer with the best interests of employees in mind.

If your business is involved in a legal or employment dispute and you require access to employment record, virtual HR can grant easy access to such information. In addition to HR software developed internally, such platforms can also be outsourced, reducing the level of monetary investment and maintenance required.

Business continuity during coronavirus pandemic

Workplaces across the globe have adapted to working life during Covid-19 by upgrading existing IT infrastructure, introducing employee communication software, such as Slack and MS Teams and investing in virtual HR to allow for business continuity. By enforcing the following measures, workforces can work remotely without being hindered by limited access to HR software or unreliable communication platforms to converse with colleagues through.

As the pandemic continues to distance workers from their colleagues, maintaining a strong business identity through regular communications can improve employee mental health. Virtual HR is an innovative way to track employee concerns and establish a secure line of communication. This can help eviscerate any sense of exclusion from the business and tighten the bond between your workforce during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Jonathan Munnery is a partner at UK Liquidators, UK’s largest company liquidation service for businesses in financial distress with eliminated chances of recovery. He regularly advises company directors in grave financial difficulty due to debt build-up, creditor pressure and impending legal action.