Supporting team mental health during the war: HR manager’s role
Today, an HR manager is an important professional in the structure of any company. This person is responsible not only for hiring and firing employees, but also develops the internal culture of the organization, promotes communication between the colleagues, supports the motivation and morale of each individual team member.
Under current conditions, the Ukrainian HR managers experience double pressure: in addition to traditional functions, they ensure a sustainable psychological climate in the team during the war. Their role of psychologists who are able to listen, understand, empathize and offer useful advice becomes apparent. At the same time, they must avoid professional burnouts themselves.
So how HR managers organize their work in wartime? How can the team morale be maintained in line with high productivity? The answer can be found in actual cases of Ukrainian businesses.
Thus, Kyivstar telecommunications company identified five key areas for supporting its employee morale: communication via an internal platform with guidelines on how to behave in critical situations; direct communication lines with the CEO regarding the crisis management; additional protection and security systems; a system of additional payments; trainings for managers.
The IT company SoftServe has developed its own HR strategy under wartime conditions, which involves constant bilateral communication, organization of new types of absence at the workplace (due to air alerts, power outages, etc.), regular employee surveys, a psychological support hotline, personal financial security guarantees for the employees, etc.
As an experienced HR provider, Smart Solutions knows how to improve the internal emotional atmosphere inside the team during the martial law and is happy to share some recommendations. Today, many businesses work in a mixed format, so we offer universal tips to optimize the HR manager’s work with both online and offline employees.
Tip #1
Create a sense of safety at work
If you ensure comfortable working conditions for staff (power, internet connection, coffee, etc.), people will feel themselves in a context similar to the pre-war working environment. The office will be perceived as a safe place. Tension will decrease and people will be focused on their duties more. It is also better to avoid salary delays and if possible, introduce additional bonuses for the most efficient workers, so that thoughts about financial instability do not distract employees from their direct tasks.
Tip #2
Engage employees in volunteering
Today, many companies collect funds and buy the most necessary items for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, internally displaced persons, medical institutions, etc. When we help others, we forget about our own problems. Involvement in volunteer projects increases the social value of a person, who feels useful and needed as a result.
Tip #3
Organize access to psychological help
We are all different. Reactions to stress, bad news, family problems due to war also differ. We are not aware of when and which employee could require psychological support. That is why it is necessary to organize access to high-quality psychological help 24/7. It can be a twenty-four-hour hotline or a psychologist’s office within the company.
Tip #4
Unite the team
Some might say that war is no time for fun. But it is not true. Even during the war, people need to understand that life goes on and there is also room for something positive. Organize workshops, flash mobs, joint sports activities, etc. “Yes to team building” should be your wartime slogan.
Regular communication with senior management, special crisis management trainings for the executives, first aid trainings – all these methods are effective, so don’t ignore them. And soon you will see the first good results.
We recommend regular communication with senior management, conducting special anti-crisis trainings for top managers, first aid courses. After all, all these are effective measures that help maintain the morale of the team. Very soon, you will see the first good results.
By the way, a video was released on the For HR channel, where Tatiana Sherman, head of communications at the DTEK Academy, shares her experience on how to maintain mental health in the organization.
