Impact of COVID-19 on Human Resource Management Functions in Zambian Organisations

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume IX, Issue II, February 2022 | ISSN 2321–2705

Impact of COVID-19 on Human Resource Management Functions in Zambian Organisations

Sitali Wamundila¹, Daniel Siakalima², Jessie Nkhowani³, Best Musondela⁴ and Francis Simui^5
1Department of Library and Information Science, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
²& ⁴Institute of Distance Education, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
³Graduate School of Business, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
⁵Department of Political and Administrative Studies, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia

Abstract: The impact of Covid-19 pandemic has been devastating on the global economy, national economies, institutions and indeed organisational operations. One of the key organisational operations that has been impacted by Covid-19 is human resource management (HRM). The impact of Covid-19 on HRM in organisations has been reported to have covered all the key functional areas of human resources practice ranging from the governance of HRM practice to workplace environment. This development has influenced the world of work profoundly. This study conducted on the impact of Covid-19 on HRM functions in Zambian organisations has revealed the continued negative impact of Covid-19 on organisational operations. However, the results of the study indicate that while all the HRM functions that were investigated namely: Organisation Design and Development; People Resourcing; Performance Management; Training and Development; Reward Management and Employee Relations reported to have been impacted, only two functions namely Training and Development and Performance Management reported significant negative impact having scored 77% and 48% respectively. The rest of the functions namely: Organisation Design and Development; People Resourcing; Reward Management and Employee Relations scored 35% and below, scores that indicate some relative stability in the operations of the functions. These results suggest the availability of a relatively stable operational environment of HRM functions in Zambian organisations and that the role of HRM function in the organisations has remained stable despite the on-going challenges posed by Covid-19. The prevalence of such an operational environment is critical for business operational continuity amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19, Human Resource Management, HRM Functions, Zambia

I. INTRODUCTION

The impact of Covid-19 pandemic has been devastating on the global economy, national economies, institutions and indeed operations within institutions (Mphahlele, Seeletso, Muleya and Simui 2021, Açikgöz and Günay 2020; African Union 2020; Association of Certified Chartered Accountants 2020; Astuti and Mahardhika 2020; Cilliers et al 2020; Dev

Read More