PF Enquiry
How Prompt Tackled the Challenges during COVID -19

How Prompt Tackled the Challenges during COVID -19

by | Jul 13, 2020 | Case Studies, Human Resources

Businesses around the world are being disrupted as we speak today, and as a business community, we have to find the answers for the here and now while also planning for the future. I believe that it is time to re-invent the wheel and start doing things that we have never done before. ” INNOVATION IS THE ONLY WAY TO WIN.” As Peter Drucker says, “The Best way to predict the future is to create it. ”

As we at Prompt Personnel successfully tackled the challenges that have come with COVID, we broadly categorize our work now as :

  1. Current Scenario and the Adaptability of the NOW
  2. Future course of action for the NEXT
  3. Technology support to accelerate growth and see the change in a disruptive world

So, how exactly did Prompt Personnel as a company manage these unforeseen circumstances and times? Here’s how.

1) Work from home was inevitable and so, the smooth transition of infrastructure, technology, and employees was prepared with a robust business continuity plan being rolled out even before the lockdown was declared by the Govt. Several team meetings and SOPs were discussed, planned, and shared for all employees.

2) Strong communication levels and passing on of accurate and transparent information was done for the first few weeks. A lot of hand-holding, con-calls, zoom meetings, and well- being of employees was monitored regularly for getting adaptability of employees to the new work situation.

3) ” The way you treat your employee is how they will treat your customers. ”  Customer satisfaction was always top priority for us and now that they were also going through similar situations, it became even more important to us. Employees were told to
show empathy, concern, and care for their customers and imbibe a “Customer-First” approach at all times.

4) Salary is a critical part of any employee's life cycle and their delays lead to ambiguity, fear, and stress for the employees. This was one aspect we took utmost care of, to ensure salaries were disbursed for all the months on the fixed dates into their bank accounts, just like pre-COVID times.

5) As the pandemic was in full force and virus spread in leaps and bounds, we ensured that Medical Insurance of all employees was taken care of, for them as well as their families.

6) Work-Life balance can go for a toss during this time, along with imbalances in managing work and household commitments. This causes stress, physically and mentally, so we started an initiative called #WeCareForYou for our employees, where we had fun-filled entertainment programs with employees, bonding over zoom calls.

7) Like every company affected by the pandemic, we also went through delayed payments, reduction in fees, lack of new client orders or acquisitions, and a total fall in business scenario. However, Hope, positivity, and dedication has helped us to tide through these two months of April and May.

As they say, “ When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Gets Going.”

8) Employees when taken care of will surely ensure that your company is well taken care of too and that paid us dividends. They worked tirelessly for extended hours to complete work way before schedules, took calls from customers at odd hours, answered each query patiently, and had a customer-first approach to serve the existing customers. They ensured 100% productivity without any interference from the senior managers or the leadership team.

9) Received accolades, appreciation emails, and testimonials from clients for all the hard work and sincere efforts put by the teams, which resulted in referrals and new business avenues opening up for us at Prompt Personnel.

10) Revival and Reinvention of our Working Ways We changed our old methods and processes of working, started empowering teams and managers for their involvement in the business. We introduced GIG workers into the regular hiring and started outsourcing work to them. We cut costs of unnecessary expenses and shut branches that were not needed. We changed focus on new emerging industries such as healthcare, E-commerce, medical supply and services, food processing, retail, and pharmacy, and drug companies.

11) We used TECHNOLOGY to leverage and accelerate growth. We introduced cloud technology supporting software for our various verticals of business.

– Mobile Attendance APP with face recognition and geo-tracking, Digital employee ID Cards for employee Logins
– HR Technology platforms from recruit to exit introduced
– Latest HRMS software for payrolling for Compliance and statutory services giving online solutions
– Vast usage of Digital platforms for branding Prompt Personnel as Knowledge-driven Company
– Upskilling and enriching employees profiles with continuous internal L& D programs

Nevertheless, to keep our employees and work going at the same pace and strive for continued success, we rolled out a manual for employees during the lockdown – Guiding Factors on Employment Law in Unprecedented Crisis , Standard guidelines/ SOP’s for Employees and Organisations for reopening of offices post-COVID.

Challenging times bring with them challenges that none of us have heard of or experienced ever. It’s only with Speed, Emotional Strength, Mental Stability, Resilience, and Agility that we can overcome and sail through this situation, together.

Author: Mrs.MonishaBasakhetre

Executive Director of Prompt Personnel Pvt Ltd, also the head of the Permanent Staffing Division, Branch Administration for the Pan India Branches, IT Infrastructure, HR and ADMIN departments.

Resume Tips: During COVID-19

Resume Tips: During COVID-19

by | Jul 1, 2020 | Human Resources

As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to surge across the globe, the ways of working have changed to work from home, use of technology for enabling remote working, and many more such changes. If you have recently been laid-off due to Covid-19 or looking for new employment opportunities during pandemic COVID-19, then here are some good resume tips which can help you prepare for your next job. 

Update your resume

Now that you have planned to hunt for a new job during COVID-19, there are high chances that you will be able to land in a job which offers remote working also this may be in the essential services businesses. Thus, it is very important to update your resume so that your background, skills, and experience can make you a perfect fit for the new roles and make you stand out in the candidate’s pool. 

Here are some resume tips which you can follow during COVID-19

Have a look at the format of your resume 

Professional recruitment consultants advice that it is very important to check and update the format of the resume every now and then. A person should edit and update the CV with the latest chronological order of your employment and experience as it will help the recruiter to study your profile better. 

Add or update the summary and objective on your resume 

Experts from the HR consulting firms say that resumes which have clearly defined summary and objectives can catch the attention of the recruiters as they are easily able to get insight into the candidate’s profile before reading the full resume. Use this opportunity to impress the recruiters in the 1st few seconds of them viewing your CV.  If they find something relevant in the objective and summary for the job role they are hiring for, they then start to read the resume in detail. Now that you understand the importance of summary and objective in your resume, don’t forget to add/update the same. 

Always check the job description before applying 

If you are aiming for a specific kind of job, then it is always better to check the job description in detail so that you can make the necessary edits in your resume. Doing this will help you build a strong resume for that job. All you must do is read the job description in detail, understand the skill-set requirement from the recruiter and then add those skills in your resume which matches your talent and experience. 

Explain and highlight your skills 

We all are living in a highly competitive world where it is very important to prove self-worth to get the job you want. Therefore, make sure that when a recruiter reads your resume, he/she should be convinced that you will be the best fit for the job and better than other applicants for the same job. 

Stay active on various job portals 

The world we are living in is driven by the internet and technology. Therefore, make use of the same to search for a good job for you. Once you are done with editing and updating your resume, it is time to send it to the right places to get noticed by the recruitment consultants and HRs. Therefore, stay active on the various job portals. 

We hope that these resume tips will help you get a good career opportunity during the pandemic COVID-19. 

 

Contract Jobs – Myth Vs Reality

Contract Jobs – Myth Vs Reality

by | Jul 1, 2020 | Human Resources

A contract job is a career choice chosen by thousands of professionals every day. This structure can offer a wide variety of commitments that allow you to refine established skills, create new ones, and introduce you to a diverse group of individuals who are critical to building your network. Serving as temporary staffing will also alleviate financial worries. You can afford to be more cautious about the full-time positions you seek if you earn income from temporary jobs. A contract position can be suitable for professionals who want to spend more time with their families or concentrate on hobbies or other interests.

However, some professionals do not consider contract work, mainly because of persistent myths about what it does or does not involve. Here, we set the record straight to some of the most common misconceptions:

Myth: contract work is a low-level career.

Reality: As companies and employees’ needs have changed over the years, the temp agency has grown. The fastest growth in skilled and technological professions is taking place today. Both businesses and practitioners of all backgrounds and skill levels have come to understand the advantages of greater versatility.

Professionals have embraced the lifestyle of consulting as they can obtain demanding, complex assignments and earn fair pay while keeping some flexibility of when, where, and how much they work.

Myth: Working as an unpaid employee would hinder my chances of being hired on a full-time basis.

Reality: quite the contrary. Most organizations see contract hiring as a way to test individuals for full-time jobs, and temp staffing always leads there. This may be especially true as companies are again hiring. Employers are also diligent in recruiting employees. However, they know that they cannot engage in recovery if they are understaffed. To bridge gaps, they bring together the most accomplished temporary professionals they can find. Many temp agencies assess the skills and cultural fitness of these individuals to make them full-time employees if business provisions continue to improve.

Myth: Temporary employment is short-term, irregular, and low-paying.

Reality: Although project consulting often offers the option of working fewer hours than a full-time job might require, professionals with sought-after skills usually find that they can work as much as they want. Also, temporary staffing can last from a couple of days to more than a year depending on the project duration.

As far as salaries are concerned, many temporary jobs pay on par with workers, and individuals with the most sought-after skills are eligible for a premium. To recruit the most highly qualified workers, employers offer fair salaries and benefits, often providing access to health care, vacation and holiday pay, and even retirement plans.

Myth: While working for a Temp job, I may not get time to search for a full-time opportunity

Reality: Depending on how often you want to work, you will need to make some changes to how and when you conduct your job quest, but it should not be too difficult. This may include only moving your networking and study tasks to early morning or evening hours, or probably during your lunch break.

However, bear in mind that temporary staffing can also allow you to progress your job quest. You never know when a position may be opened in the company where you work, or when others you meet in the course of your assignment may be willing to recommend you for a position they have heard of through their network.

Virtual Recruitment – All You Need to Keep in Mind

Virtual Recruitment – All You Need to Keep in Mind

by | Jun 23, 2020 | Human Resources

In the current world scenario, most companies are running operations from home. Communication and coordination within companies is also seeing a new normal with video calling softwares and apps. In the world of recruitment as well, there are plenty of things changing and taking shape. If you’re a company that is still hiring during this pandemic period, you may want to get well- equipped with a few basics when it comes to conducting virtual interviews.

 

  1. Using the correct video calling software –
    Imagine you’re in the middle of a serious interview process and the software starts to show some glitches. That would make a really wrong impression on the aspiring employee. Make sure your internet is functioning well and the software is up to date before you jump on the interview.
  2. Competent interview tools –
    Although nothing can beat personally interacting with a potential hire to understand their personality and work ethics, with social distancing, that may not be possible. To test competency of potential employees, make sure you
    are prepared with what questions are to be asked and tools needed to evaluate their performance.
  3. Background checks –
    With any hire, HRs or hiring managers need to perform background checks but it becomes exceptionally crucial during the current times. Be prepared with a list of references and prior certificates of the candidate that can be checked at any time.
  4. Be presentable –
    HRs and hiring managers are the first point of contact for any potential employee, so make sure you maintain a professional appearance while conducting the interview.
  5. Onboarding process –
    If you happen to take a potential employee up to the finishing line and hire them, try to re-create a formal and official onboarding process as you would do in a normal scenario. Sending out emails to everyone in the team and
    officially onboarding the new member on an all-team video call would be the best way to go about it.

Over the coming months, companies will be effectively working from home, so it’s only best to manoeuvre the challenges that come with it one by one.

How to Keep Your Employees Engaged During WFH

How to Keep Your Employees Engaged During WFH

by | Jun 6, 2020 | Human Resources

To overcome this global crisis, many organizations have changed the dynamics by asking their employees to work from home. However, while working professionals turn their homes into offices, they are also handling house chores, family commitments, other tasks, and seeking personal time. In such a scenario, it is important for employees and employers to keep their spirit and moral going. To cope well with these shifts in our personal and professional lives, it is imperative that HRs keep the work community engaged and motivated. Here are some of the ways HRs can use to keep their employees engaged.

  1. Rewards and Recognition
    Offering positive reinforcements to employees acts as a great encouragement. HRs can introduce e-vouchers or coupons to the employee of the week. By awarding them with these vouchers, one can increase their confidence and productivity, as well as introduce healthy competition amongst the team members.
  2. Friday Activities
    Many companies are now introducing ‘happy hour’ Fridays. One hour every Friday is dedicated to fun sessions where employees can interact, drink and eat together, enjoy some music, play the guitar or indulge in any form of entertainment.
  3. Hosting Cook-Offs
    To keep things interesting, HRs are also hosting cook-offs every week with all employees. If you have a common company platform, you could design your own recipe and post it on the page. The best recipe could win incentives in the form of vouchers. This gives the employees something to look forward to in the week.
  4. Online Workout Sessions
    Just like cook-offs, you could also dedicate an hour each week to indulge in a team workout session through video conferencing apps. Doing this will prevent burnout and keep the motivation going for everyone. It’s also a great way to maintain an active lifestyle.
  5. Games and Virtual Parties
    One could also introduce games or interactive sessions during the week or on weekends. There are plenty of online apps like Karaoke apps, gaming apps or interactive apps that allow a group of people to participate in games.

We couldn’t have imagined that we would be living like this until a few months ago. But with changing times, we must adapt to the situation. Adopting these fun tips and tricks to keep the employees engaged while they work from home could do wonders for your organization. We at Prompt had a fun, interactive employee engagement session on Zoom too, where every member of the team showcased their talent and shared it with others. These are some great ways to boost employee engagement and keep their spirits up during this difficult time.

Things to Keep In Mind When Resuming Work after Lockdown

Things to Keep In Mind When Resuming Work after Lockdown

by | May 28, 2020 | Human Resources, Uncategorized

With the on-going battle against COVID-19, work from home has become a widely accepted work arrangement for most of us. However, as the lockdown restrictions are being lifted in certain parts of the country, and we hope to see some relaxations in other parts too, the doubts regarding going back to office are arising. Although the government is trying its best to impose safety guidelines, it eventually comes down to the precautions we consciously take when we go back to work. Here are a few things to keep in mind as we resume work after the lockdown –

  1. Observe Social Distancing

    Avoiding gatherings has become the new mantra in today’s times. As you resume work, your natural instinct would be to gather in groups with your co-workers and catch up on all the lost time that was missed. But, safety overpowers it all. We also must ensure that social distancing is maintained even in the office premises.

  2. Maintain Hygiene

    This should be a top priority for professionals for when they resume work. Sanitizing the surroundings and keeping yourself clean will definitely go a long way and is a requisite now. Maintaining cleanliness on your work desk and areas in the office, along with personal hygiene should be practiced on a daily basis. Sanitizing hands after using the toilet, and before and after meals must be strictly followed too.

  3. Protection Kit

    Face masks, sanitizers, gloves, and wet wipes will now replace other essentials that you’d carry in the pre-COVID world. It is imperative to have your own sanitization kit, and it is all the more important to carry it everywhere, especially to work.

  4. Go Paperless

    One sure-fire way to ensure your health when you commute to work is to rely on digital currency and make payments only via digital apps. Avoid the exchange of notes or actual paper as much as possible. This will ensure not just your safety but also the other person’s.

  5. Bring Your Own Food

    There was a time when outside food was also a feasible lunch option. Now, however, to ensure your safety, you must only adhere to home-cooked food for lunch. That way, you will also be certain of the hygiene and quality of what you’re eating and who has handled your food prior to consuming it.

When we do resume offices properly, we hope that health and hygiene becomes a little more of a priority now than it was before. With these few considerations, things will resume normalcy very soon.

Business Enquiry