Canadian HR Reporter

E D I T O R I A L 6 www.hrreporter.com EDITORIAL Editor/Supervisor: Sarah Dobson Employment Law Editor: Jeffrey R. Smith Labour Relations News Editor: John Dujay Production Editor: Patricia Cancilla Contributors: Laura Williams Erin O'Keefe CORPORATE Chief Executive Officer Mike Shipley Chief Operating Officer George Walmsley President Tim Duce Chief Information Officer Colin Chan Human Resources Manager Julia Bookallil ADVERTISING Business Development Manager: Fred Crossley (416) 644-8740 ext. 236 fred.crossley@keymedia.com Vice President Sales John Mackenzie PRODUCTION Designer: Ace Dequina Production Coordinator: Kim Kandravy Client Success Coordinator: Kshipra Dhindaw MARKETING AND CIRCULATION Subscriptions and Circulation manager: Keith Fulford Marketing Coordinator: Charlyn Macaraeg Global Head of Media Marketing: Adrijana Monevska ISSUE 33.07.2020 www.hrreporter.com Repercussions of virus still not understood EVEN today, eight months after it all started, the upheaval that has been caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is still not fully understood. The repercussions of this tumultuous, scary and unpredictable time continue to emerge, as people and economies try to figure out the new normal. For someone in HR, it must feel like a game of Whac-A-Mole some days, the popular game where you use a plastic mallet to hit the heads of moles as they pop up from their holes. These "moles" have ranged from payroll requirements, government programs, temporary layoffs and remote work technology to safety protocols, mental illness, employment legislation and virtual benefits. Just when you think you have one part solved, another pops up. The demand on human resources truly has been unprecedented. After the initial scramble to figure things out, fast, as economics and workplaces shut down, there was the momentous task of dealing with vast numbers of people working remotely or ramping up safety efforts for those on the front lines. And then, of course, there were the millions of layoffs, an emotionally draining and Herculean task for HR. And while there might have been somewhat of a lull in the late spring as people settled into their new routines, newer issues such as mental health and remote work challenges became apparent. People were suffering, whether from anxiety or isolation, and needed additional support. Then there were the ever-changing workplace regulations keeping employers on their toes. Now, we're entering into the next chapter, the return-to-work phase for millions of displaced employees, whether because they've worked from home or been temporarily laid off, along with the ramping up of hiring for sectors coming back online. But even this time is not easy because there are still so many unknowns. What will "workplace safety" look like in the new world of work? How many employees should continue to work remotely? What happens if there's a second or third wave of the virus? What temporary changes should stay permanent? It makes me wish for simpler times when issues such as cannabis legalization and the classification of dependent contractors were the biggest "moles" to deal with. Here's hoping the game comes to an end soon. What will workplace safety look like in the new world of work? Sarah Dobson, editor, Canadian HR Reporter group Contents of Canadian HR Reporter are copyright © 2020 HAB Press Limited and may not be reproduced in whole or part without written consent. HAB Press Limited disclaims any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or currency of the contents of this publication and disclaims all liability in respect of the results of any action taken or not taken in reliance upon information in this publication. HST/GST # 70318 4911 RT0001 Canada Post – Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement 41261516 International Standard Serial Number 0838-228X. The publishers accept no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, colour transparencies or other materials. Manuscripts or other materials must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. KEY MEDIA and the KEY MEDIA logo are trademarks of Key Media IP Limited, and used under license by HAB Press Limited. Canadian HR Reporter is a trademark of HAB Press Limited. 20 Duncan St. 3rd Floor, Toronto, ON. M5H 3G8 www.hrreporter.com Subscription price: Canada: $175 plus tax; US and International: $175 USD Canadian HR Reporter makes every effort to ensure accuracy in all items reported, but cannot accept responsibility for the representations or claims made by sources used. It is also not responsible for claims made by its advertisers. HR_AD_REVISED_APR_2020.indd 1 HR_AD_REVISED_APR_2020.indd 1 2020-04-24 9:30 AM 2020-04-24 9:30 AM

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