Common workplace concerns. Five issues have become more prevalent while employees are working remotely:

Employee benefits, 48%
Employee stress, 39%
Employee disputes, 35%
Workplace safety, 32%
Equipment or technology issues, 31%

Raising the bar for HR engagement. The expectations that employees have of their HR resources have changed as well:

60% of employees expected their HR departments to ensure they have everything they need to work remotely.
Nearly half of employees believed HR should be responsible for managing employee benefits, promoting employee work-life balance, hiring employees and building an inclusive workplace environment.

Non-negotiable workplace decisions. When asked what would most make them consider quitting their job, employees identified:

Having their pay cut, 62%
Being refused sick time off, 54%
Being refused vacation time, 44%

Internal HR struggles. Since transitioning to a remote work environment, the benefits that HR professionals appreciated the most include:

Spending less time commuting, 55%
Having happier employees, 45%
Having fewer HR issues to deal with, 43%

"As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of working Americans have transitioned into remote environments for the first time, requiring companies and their employees to adapt to these new digital frontiers without warning or time to acclimate to the changes," the report concluded. "Since the pandemic began, many HR professionals working for small and midsize businesses reported an increase in the number of issues being reported, particularly around employee disputes, employee benefits, and even more sensitive topics, including both perceived racism and sexism. And while the demand for HR resources has increased, the challenges for HR professionals have also changed."

Instant Insights /

Role of HR professionals has taken on greater importance during pandemic, survey finds

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