COVID has changed recruitment, but how have HR adapted?

The financial crisis of 2008 defined Finance Directors and Finance Managers as heroes for guiding businesses through this period of hostility. 

 

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 has had several different and monumental challenges, many of which have put HR leaders firmly in the spotlight. 

 

Almost over-night, organisations had to adapt their people strategy whilst focusing on business survival. This saw HR leaders being thrust into the helm; having to quickly pivot their workforce to be able to work productively from home, manage new safety requirements, manage virtual lay offs and implement furlough schemes, retain a focus on employee motivation and mental health with also an increasing focus on timely communications to employees about these rapid changes. Despite this lengthy ‘crisis management’ list, many were conscious that maintaining an eye on business continuity was also critical, and hiring practices have undoubtedly been massively impacted, both from a strategic perspective but also from a practical perspective.

CSG Talent explore the impact on hiring practices across different organisations and the challenges HR Leaders and Hiring Managers have faced over the recent months. 

 

Utilising case studies from a small number of leading organisations across different industries to provide a snap shot, we look at some of the immediate impacts on hiring requirements and other adaptations these particular organisations have faced, from the impact on hiring, interviewing and on-boarding to the impact on people policies and internal communications. 

 

We highlight some of the changes these industry leaders have had to make to combat these challenges, the changes that are likely to have a long lasting legacy and highlighting best practices that HR leaders need to consider as their people and talent strategy continues to evolve rapidly.

Laila King - Senior Talent Acquisition Manager (Personalis) 

Founded in 2011, Personalis, Inc. is a growing cancer genomics company, providing advanced genomic sequencing and analytics solutions to support the development of personalized cancer vaccines and other next-generation cancer immunotherapies. With over 200 employees, Personalis is headquartered in Menlo Park, California, USA.

 

Tanya Meah - People Director (Ground Control) 

Ground Control is a rapidly growing external maintenance company, providing Grounds Maintenance, Landscape Construction, Design, Arboriculture and Winter Maintenance to commercial properties across the UK. In 2019 Ground Control was awarded The Sunday Times Top Track 250 for leading mid-market private growth companies. Initially established in 1973, Ground Control’s headquarters are in Essex, UK.

 

Katie Castleton - Recruitment, Training & Development Office (AngloAmerican) 

Anglo American are a leading global mining company. They use innovative practices and the latest technologies to mine, process, move and market metals and minerals products and to discover new resources which are the essential ingredients in almost every aspect of modern life. With headquarters in the UK, they have projects and operations globally and over 90,000 employees. 

 

Derek Carter - HR Director, Head of Talent Management (Strong Roots)

Strong Roots produce innovative plant-based food, with a commitment to revolutionizing frozen food. Their range offers consumers convenient, vegan, healthy meals for home cooking. Originally established in Ireland, the fast-growing company now has offices across Ireland, UK and USA.