COVID-19 pandemic: Fall in productivity single biggest concern among many firms, says EY survey

As many as 72 per cent of organisations feel that the impact of the coronavirus pandemic will be felt beyond six months and the single-biggest concern for continued remote working is fall in productivity, according to a survey by consultancy and advisory services provider E&Y.

The ongoing health crisis is also forcing organisations to re-look at the HR processes and operations through a digital lens, said the EY survey titled 'HR resilience planning - COVID-19 impact and preparedness'.

The survey incorporates first-hand perspective of HR heads or chief human resource officers of over 100 organisations across sectors in India on the impact of COVID-19 and their preparedness to tackle the current situation, E&Y said in a statement.

"While the COVID-19 impact can be felt by organisations across sectors, 72 per cent of the organisations stated that its impact will be felt beyond six months," the survey said.

It further said, "Around 70 per cent of the organisations believe that the single-biggest concern for continued remote working is fall in productivity."
As a result of organisations re-looking at their HR processes, the survey said, "More than 70 per cent of the organisations are now moving to virtual methods of recruitment, and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, robotic process automation and machine learning are leading this change."
Commenting on the findings, EY India Partner and India Workforce Advisory Leader, People Advisory Services, Anurag Malik, said, "Today, organisations are grappling with an unprecedented crisis that is fundamentally different from what they have ever experienced. In this hour of crisis, the HR function has to be a business partner in anticipating change, co-creating a range of scenarios and planning for the future."
He further said, "It is also the right time for the HR heads to recalibrate their priorities, focus towards managing remote workforce, digitalise the HR function, and re-imagine workforce models."
Highlighting the changing ways of working in India, the survey said, "Around 87 per cent of the respondents currently have travel restrictions in place in addition to the mandated ones."
EY India Partner, Workforce Advisory (Africa, India and Middle East), People Advisory Services, Gopal Nagpaul said, "Organisations will need to focus on building work alignment and work control through a structured work allocation and communication protocol."