Northwell Health Human Resources and the Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way every industry functions, and the healthcare industry is no exception. Northwell Health, one of the largest healthcare providers in New York, has had to navigate the pandemic and its impact on human resources. As the pandemic hit, Northwell Health’s human resources department became vital in supporting frontline workers, managing employee safety, and ensuring the organization continued to operate despite the challenges.
Support on the Frontline
When the pandemic hit, hospitals were overwhelmed with patients, and frontline workers were physically and mentally exhausted. Northwell Health’s human resources department played a critical role in supporting these workers. They provided emotional support, counseling services, and resources to keep healthcare workers motivated and healthy. Moreover, the team also stepped up to provide child care coverage for employees who were working around the clock, ensuring they could focus on their work without worrying about their families.
Managing Employee Safety
Employee safety during a pandemic is of utmost importance, especially in healthcare. Northwell Health’s human resources department had to quickly implement safety measures to help keep employees safe. Mandatory mask-wearing, social distancing, and frequent sanitation became common practice across all facilities. The human resources team also developed guidelines for screening all employees and visitors for COVID-19 symptoms, implemented contact tracing, and established protocols for employee exposure to the virus.
Ensuring Continuation of Operations
Despite the challenges of the pandemic, it was critical that Northwell Health continued to operate to provide vital healthcare services to the community. This meant the human resources department had to adapt quickly to remote work and virtual recruitment processes. The team also had to oversee the training and re-deployment of employees to fill in where there were labor shortages. Northwell Health’s human resources team worked vigorously to maintain the organization’s staffing levels and ensure that all positions were filled to the best of their capacity.
Conclusion
Northwell Health’s human resources team has been instrumental in making sure that the organization continues to function during the pandemic. They have provided critical support to frontline workers, helped maintain employee safety, and ensured that the organization continues to provide healthcare services to the public. The team’s swift actions, innovation, and teamwork have been a testament to Northwell Health’s commitment to its employees and the community.
