In Zambia, businesses are grappling with significant hurdles such as power disruptions, escalating fuel costs, and increased electricity expenses. These obstacles are impacting productivity and operational efficiency. However, Human Resources (HR) can play a pivotal role in assisting companies navigate through these adversities and sustain growth.
Here are some ways HR can make a meaningful impact:
Facilitating Learning Opportunities: During challenging times, HR can facilitate learning and development initiatives to equip employees with the necessary skills aligned with evolving business needs. Continuous development through capacity building initiatives enables employees to adapt swiftly to changing circumstances, ensuring business continuity.
Strategic Workforce Planning: HR can engage in strategic workforce planning to forecast talent requirements and address skill gaps, thereby ensuring optimal resource allocation and operational readiness amidst uncertainties like power cuts. Skill gaps, as already stated, can be addressed through capacity building initiatives.
Staff Well-being Initiatives: Amidst challenges, HR can focus on employee well-being by implementing comprehensive wellness programs and fostering a supportive work environment. These can include sporting activities and teambuilding activities. This helps maintain morale and engagement even in adverse circumstances.
Efficiency Enhancement Measures: HR can identify opportunities for cost optimization and efficiency enhancement, such as implementing flexible work arrangements and energy-saving initiatives. These measures contribute to operational efficiency while mitigating the impact of rising costs. HR can even come up with incentives for those who may excel in, for example, taking the lead in cutting down on wastage of energy.
Promoting Collaboration: HR can foster collaboration among stakeholders, including management, unions and employees, to collectively address challenges and find innovative solutions. By promoting a culture of teamwork and idea-sharing, HR can enable companies to navigate difficulties effectively.
Truth be told, HR's strategic involvement is instrumental in supporting Zambian businesses during challenging times. However, this requires proactivity on the part of HR to facilitate learning opportunities, engage in workforce planning, prioritization of employee well-being, implementation of efficiency enhancement measures, and promotion of collaboration. In this way, HR will add value and empower companies to overcome obstacles and emerge stronger in the midst of challenges.
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This is Ronald R Sambo, AKA Mr Ron, FZIHRM,
Founder & CVO, Talent Hub
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