Briefing 1: People Management During the Recession

Introduction The current recession presents the HR profession with the greatest challenge it has faced for more than a decade. The focus is now very clearly on improving performance whilst at the same time reducing cost. For many organisations this means restructuring, downsizing and redundancies, and the need to manage employee and industrial relations carefully. For others this may also involve a fundamental review of HR strategies and policies.

Despite difficult decisions having to be made, this is an opportune time for HR to demonstrate how it can add significant value during these turbulent times. Organisations face very big challenges in increasing employee engagement and improving their performance, managing talent and communicating effectively. Handled well, this provides a huge opportunity for HR to make a significant difference because it is the organisations who deal with these issues effectively that will be quicker to reap the benefits from an improved economic environment in the future.

The focus is now very clearly on improving performance whilst at the same time reducing cost.