"EVERY
time you go out, there is police
everywhere and they ask you to
identify yourself and to explain the reason why
you are out… It's just like being in a war."
That was the situation facing Francesca
Bossi, CHRO of Docebo in Milan in March,
when her company was among many in Italy
that underwent a severe lockdown enforced
both by local police and the army.
"It's quite difficult, but we already know it is
something we have to do to stop the virus, so
it's not just an imposition, it's something that
we are doing for our future."
And there are lessons to be learned from the
pandemic, for now and the future, says Bossi.
"The most important lesson is to try to think
in advance. Being a little paranoid in the
beginning could really help you to manage the
situation."
It is difficult to deal with something as
unprecedented as this, where many employers
are trying to figure out if they' ll be able to
open up for business the next day, says Plamen
Petkov, vice president of legislative affairs and
business resources at CFIB in Toronto.
"I could compare this to perhaps businesses
that existed during the Second World War, for
example, and what that looked like back then…
WWW.HRREPORTER.COM ISSUE 33.04
THE NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
HR at forefront
in pandemic response
Remote work in spotlight
With so many people at home, will
careers suffer? We look at a recent study
/8
Coping through digital therapy
Online cognitive behavioural therapy
provides much-needed support to
workers
/18
Travelling light
When business travel resumes, going
green should be one consideration
/24
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE…
INTERNAL RECRUITMENT
Finding top talent can be tough, so one
Toronto-based ad firm decided to look
inwards, with encouraging results /7
SEARCHING FOR SKILLS
While coping with the pandemic will be
a huge challenge for employers going
forward, a lack of essential skills is also
a major obstacle, finds a survey /10
TAKING TIME OFF
A growing number of employers are
looking to ensure workers take their
vacation by offering bonuses or savings
plans /12
> pg. 2
With the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping across the globe,
employers are faced with unprecedented change and
tough decisions. Business continuity planning, employee
communications and remote work are taking centre stage as
workplaces fight to survive and thrive, writes Sarah Dobson
