Thoughts for all of the hard working HR teams out there.
We’re in touch with HR professionals day-in day-out and we hear a lot of your stories about how hard you’ve worked over the last two years. And the endless array of novel issues you’ve had to overcome.
Many of these people challenges are nothing like we’ve ever tackled before! And now we’re facing yet another challenge thanks to Omicron.
With that in mind, we wanted to share our appreciation of what you’ve achieved and also some thoughts about how to keep yourself safe and well through this next phase.
It’s fine to put yourself first.
HR’s role in helping employees navigate the ongoing changes brings stress and emotional drain. So often the focus is to look after others and this is a reminder that we have to take time to look after ourselves. Put on our own flight mask first – before we reach out to help others.
A US report found that 77.3% of HR professionals surveyed reported experiencing burnout during the pandemic, an increase from 59.6% in February 2020.
These statistics are not really surprising. The big concern is the real impact this is having – something the numbers can’t describe.
If left unaddressed, the ongoing stress and emotional trauma can impact our physical and mental well-being. We all know this can lead to increased risk of depression, anxiety and insomnia, high blood pressure, diabetes, back and neck pain, chronic health problems and the list goes on.
5 reminders on how to cope with the chaos
1. When work is done – unplug!
Being available all the time is a trap that only compounds the pressure. Don’t allow work to take over what should be your time off. Almost every issue can be solved the next day.
2. Nurture healthy habits.
Feeling good physically helps you feel good mentally. A healthy diet, regular exercise, breathing techniques, mindfulness and yoga are just some of the ways to improve you’re wellbeing. And don’t forget about sleep!
3. Talk as a team
You’re all in this together in HR, so talk it through. This could be done in a focus group or with a survey, or one-on-one. This allows the executive team to understand the issues and then act on them.
4. Say no to negative thoughts.
Negative self-talk, can increase stress levels. To get around this, acknowledge what you’re thinking, then ask yourself if they’re based on fact. Talking about your thoughts with a confidante can also help.
5. Ask for help
Even though you’re usually the person being asked for help, remember, you can ask for help too. Talk to the person you report to or another trusted colleague. Chances are they’re feeling stressed too!
A silver lining.
Although the last two years have been a challenge for HR professionals, there could well be positives that come from it.
We’ve had to re-think the way we approach people issues – but in the long run we might benefit from initiatives that started because of COVID.
The implementation of new programs is a great example – free therapy and guided meditation sessions, therapist-led “coping with Covid” webinars, virtual exercise classes and monthly food deliveries to name a few.
Let’s stay positive, and remember, HR will be part of it, so please take care of each other and yourselves.
