YOUNG INFLUENCERS 2021
SPECIAL REPORT
18 www.hrreporter.com
IN
a tumultuous year that has had a
huge impact on workplaces of all
kinds, HR professionals across the country
were faced with unprecedented challenges.
Put in the spotlight, many of them easily
showed their worth as innovative, dedi-
cated and invigorated individuals and as
HR influencers working hard to transform
their workplaces for the better.
We spoke with three of this year's HR
Influencers to hear their stories.
across the health care sector. This meant
working with HR and operations partners
at long-term care facilities, retirement
homes, hospitals and public health units.
"We had a number of individuals who
raised their hands to volunteer to be
immediately mobilized to go out and help
provide support. And it was something
that we've never seen or done with our
staff before," says Wagstaff.
"In the heat of the moment, and in the
thick of this battle to address and respond
to this need, it's so easy to unconsciously
just default to 'We need numbers' and
forget that there's faces and names and
families and spouses and children to
consider for these [employees] before
you're sending them into a long-term care
home... They're gearing up in masks,
gloves, visors, gowns, etcetera and going
into almost like a war zone."
Wagstaff was also an active participant
on a COVID-19 Response Virtual HR
Team, where he helped develop a Regional
Manager's Playbook and Staff Exit Guide,
which provided a guiding framework for
people leaders to support their staff with
"We had to completely pivot
the way that we normally went
about bringing people into the
country."
Lisa Reich, Aecon Group
HR INFLUENCERS STAND OUT
WITH DEDICATION, INNOVATION
'Almost like a war zone'
Kyle Wagstaff is described as "the consum-
mate professional who demonstrates the
key capabilities and talent mobility of a
passionate human resources professional."
This past year, the senior HR business
partner at Home and Community Care
Support Services in Markham, Ont.
engaged with over 110 staff into 170
deployment assignments outside of the
organization to support critical needs
TOP CHALLENGES FACING HR IN PANDEMIC
Protecting the health and wellness of employees
Rapid policy changes
Ensuring business continuity
Source: ADP Canada and Maru/Blu
Supporting employees' mental health
53%
71%
Supporting the transition to remote work
58%
53%
65%
