Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Human Resource Management Practices and Policies of the Organizations

Abstract

This research paper examines how organizations responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by modifying their human resource policies and practices. The pandemic generated fear and heightened work-related stress among employees. To understand how organizations addressed these challenges, the study reviews existing literature on HRM during COVID-19 and synthesizes the key changes implemented to mitigate employee stress and anxiety in the workplace. The study follows an exploratory design and adopts a narrative review approach, which is qualitative in nature. The review focuses exclusively on research papers related to COVID-19, the recent pandemic context, and human resource management. Based on the analysis of selected studies, the paper proposes a conceptual model highlighting how organizations managed COVID-19 through shifts in HR policies and practices. The findings suggest that timely and appropriate adjustments in HR practices particularly those related to compensation, job arrangements, employee health, and overall support played a crucial role in helping organizations navigate the challenges posed by the pandemic.