As I think about the threats of
COVID-19 widespread, I can’t help but view things from a Human Resource (HR)
Management perspective (I have been wired to think this way for so long;
forgive me!).
And ignite readiness among us so that we, its practitioners, can aid in the appropriate correction of
things after this alarming hiatus of our generation.
When we were thrown unexpectedly from
our busy “normal” life, I began to ask the “what’s” and the “why’s” that led us
here. And began challenging the way we have
managed our daily lives --- yes, the manner by which seemingly we have
inflicted undue conflict between “doing our businesses”, which, actually
consume 70% of our time, as against how we are “living our lives” as genuine human
beings?
I am now with a non-profit
agency, serving the “poorest of the poor”, as our mission upholds it, and I am exactly
in the “heart of the chaos” where, as a first-hand witness to the disturbing pleas
yet, likewise, significant victories of fierce social workers, I can only stand
at awe over the strength of the human spirit.
Ahh, the modern-day heroes of our times. I listen; I counsel; I serve them, within the “comforts” of my home;
while they give hope every day to those infected and / or still exposed to this
“virus”; every single moment risking their lives. I believe
something is so wrong in this set-up; yet, I am, likewise, aware of my responsibilities
to distant myself. Believe me, to serve
someone under the context of “social distancing” is so NEW; it totally bothers &
freaks me out, somehow!
Thus, the troubling times sipped
in and I began pondering, “where do we, HR, bring our people after this
experience?”. Surely, “they” & “us”
will never be the same amidst this horrendous “wake up call”!
Sure! We will never cease to
HIRE, TRAIN, REWARD employees so they can achieve their dreams… but can we put a stop to this RAT-RACE
lifestyle?
I had been &, ironically, until now, am still a victim & an advocate of this vicious life struggle! But, if we haven’t realized yet, amidst a
“rat-race” culture is a detrimental neglect to the order of care & mindful respect; hurting balance of time, environment & relationships. It
breathes competition, healthy at first, but would pave for endless clash between
& within people themselves. It
springboards people so fast from one place to another; driving them to mindless
calibration of tasks, goals, plans that will always be more than they can
handle. It restlessly traps them in loops
of phones, laptops, gadgets, cars, planes which successfully connect them, yet,
disintegrate them? Rat-race makes them ALL, (oh! I mean all of US), invincible; unstoppable; greedily searching for more. At the end, we become unaware of our anxious
spirits, tired and disturbed core. We
are always present; yet, “detached” … and lost?!
Now that the world stops for a while, I am brought
back to highlighting the essential needs of workers:
- · Good Health
- · Basic Needs (Food, Shelter, Decent Buying Power)
- · Genuine Connection to Man’s Longevity … that which nourishes His Soul (Loved Ones, Nature, God)
I fear if not thwarted exponentially, this threat can
always come back in a mutated form, more dreadful, more damaging economically …
and spiritually…
I am clueless to my ponderings
now! I am just going circles with my reverie’ … but I hope I ignite one soul to
help us seek where we must evolve as “champions of the people”. Yes, to be the first catalyst of change in possibly "best mind-set & human behavior"?
I am just one tiny, weeny
voice. But global organizations, like
the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Coaches Federations, etc., or
even local HR / Employee - service groups, must re-think ways and provide agenda
that will finally answer the gap between “earning a living” and “truly living a life”. I know it is too much a burden to put on us
because such should be, in the first place, even world-wide government and religious goals.
But who is it that they say
should “put the people first” in the workplace?
So, I pose the question to HR and
all organization leaders (who are HR in their own rights), “Where do we bring
the workers… from here?
Thinking … worried … hopeful,
Roxanne
