Abstract:
HRM plays a major role in stabilizing the business and the employees. To achieve
success or go beyond success, the HR department should protect and retain current
employees while facing the issues created by the Covid-19 pandemic. This study has
three objectives: to study 1) HRM practices adopted to protect and retain employees
during the pandemic, 2) the perception of employees about those practices, 3) how are
those practices related to organizational outcomes?. A qualitative study was carried
taking the Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo as a case. Primary Data was collected from
two HR-related persons; five currently working employees, and three previously
worked employees who left during the Covid-19 pandemic were interviewed through
telephone and face-to-face. Among non-probability sampling methods, Convenience
sampling was chosen as the sampling technique. Findings indicated that several
practices were newly implemented to protect and retain employees. For example, the
HR department introduced new safety and hygiene practices to protect employees from
the virus, provided personal protective equipment when employees needed, gave grace
period for settle employees personal loans, arranged virtual training and events to give
entertainment, improved awareness to the employees, arrange vaccination programs,
and provide overseas Taj opportunities to employees. When considering employees'
viewpoints about HRM practices, they had more negative perceptions than positive
ones. The main disappointment is the service break which was the main reason for exit
employees during the pandemic. Other than that, employees' expectations were
impaired about their income further; employees worked under pressure because of job
instability. When considering employees' career satisfaction, the HR department was
planning employees' careers by introducing a succession plan. Recommendations are
given to be more concern on employees currently working at Taj Samudra and give job
security. Furthermore, for the researchers who intend to conduct their research in HRM
practices during the pandemic and their effect on employees, this will be literature for
them.
Key Words: HRM Practices,
