Hunkering down
Managing human resources in tough times
Fred Mael
No new hiring. Freezing wages. Layoffs. Logical or not, these are management’s typical responses to dealing with employees (aka talent or human resources) during economic downturns. They are all variations of holding the line, hunkering down – different ways of saying that you will try to muddle through with a lean team until things get better. Other human resources concerns will have to take a back seat for now.
Although you may prefer or feel compelled to ignore people issues and focus on marketing and finances, life goes on. Individual needs, interpersonal dynamics, and even the culture of your company or organization will continue to evolve, especially when stress levels are high. There will be shifts in behavior and expectations that you need to attend to before they become problems that demand your attention. These are some of the areas that you would do well to monitor.
The answer is no. Some companies and work organizations in some sectors are still thriving. Many companies will always make room for someone exceptionally talented or for those having a unique skill not yet found in their company. If you are not dealing with the causes of dissatisfaction in your company and if the atmosphere is toxic, expect your most capable and most mobile employees to continue to be recruited and enticed to leave.
If you are working in the nonprofit arena, you need to retain paying members, and they may see membership in your organization as discretionary spending they can no longer justify. You may have to make a better case for your organization as a prime recipient of others’ money and loyalty. If you use volunteers, you may need to expend more effort to recruit and retain them as well. Both contributions to and volunteering for nonprofit organizations tends to go down during periods of economic uncertainty. You may have to fight harder to recruit and retain volunteers and address their dissatisfactions with working for your organization.
Neglect That Harms
Fred Mael, PhD, helps organizations and their employees work more effectively, and coaches executives and managers. www.maelconsulting.com. This article appeared originally in the April 2009 issue of Baltimore SmartCEO and Washington SmartCEO magazine.