On this episode of The Shape of Work podcast, we have Tabrez Khan, Head HR & HRSS at MB Informatics India Pvt. Ltd. (MB Holding LLC).

With nearly 2 decades of experience in working with organizations such as Wipro, Airtel, and Bharti Realty, Tabrez had plenty of expertise to share in this conversation. He throws light on:

• Employee engagement barriers and ways to overcome them
• Things every HR professional should do to succeed
• The importance of employer branding for your company’s hiring success

Engagement Challenges in Remote Working During Pandemic

With employees spread across different locations due to remote working, organizations faced new engagement challenges. Tabrez says that engagement is not a one-word by itself. It is a combination of several HR dimensions such as work environment, creativity, innovation, learning and development, performance management and engagement itself.

In his organization, HR engaged its employees in different ways. HR ensured all employees had uninterrupted access to technology and tools. They even subsidized the internet expenses for employees. They increased outreach consciously by conducting KYC of employee interaction. Each employee and new joiners had to interact with teams and HR. HR reduced working hours to help employees maintain work-life balance. They ran several health campaigns with a focus on the physical and mental well-being of employees. They also held fun events like Tamboli. Furthermore, they refrained from salary cuts and provided increments to ease out job insecurity of employees.

Advice to Aspiring HR Professionals in the New Normal

HR professionals should take a close look at what's happening around and how to go about it. It is irrespective of COVID-19 or any other situation. The first piece of advice is that HR professionals should be people's person. They should be bold enough to clash with the management to support people. As long as they have data and logic to back their perspective, it is easy to convince the management. HR should not lose the human touch. Let employees vent out. That's all needed 99% of the time from HR. Listen and empathize with them. Don't chuck them out. If you have to say no, be gentle.

The second piece of advice is that HR should not replace the human factor with technology. HR still has to keep an open contact with employees, or else there will be no face representing HR.

The third piece of advice is that HR professionals should know the business at the back of their hands. Every organization has a unique business, culture, situation, and people. Hence, HR professionals should observe people and their roles before adding any value from previous experience. These values should make the business and people better.

Uniform Onboarding Experiences Across All Verticals

Onboarding starts when you shortlist the candidates for interviews. HR should have a uniform statement about the value proposition that an employer can offer. It is essential to make candidates aware of the organization's open environment, competitive pay, learning opportunities, and work exposure. It is not necessary to have only high-potential employees in the organization. HR should hire even low-potential people so that they can grow and stay longer in the organization. There should be a balance between thinkers and executors.

Find Tabrez on LinkedIn.

Produced by: Priya Bhatt
Podcast host: Yashwanth Jembige