HRM PRACTICES DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THEIR IMPACT ON EMPLOYEES

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,