The CEO of L’AINE Services, Dr Ellen M. Hagan, has charged HR practitioners to lead in ensuring the health and safety of both the staff and the work environment in the face of Covid-19.

She said, “Despite the dangers, the pandemic has presented, we have seen the need for business continuity for the sustenance of economies across the world."

She was speaking at the third edition of the HR Interactive sessions was held on Friday, August 27, 2021, at the L’AINE Office Complex at Adabraka in Accra.

In her welcome address, she emphasised the importance of such forums and discussions to better many practitioners.

She further spoke on the need for everyone to adhere to the protocols strictly.

The event, themed “HR’s Role in Managing the Third Wave of Covid-19 in the Office”, was organised by HR Focus in partnership with Standard Chartered Bank Ghana.

This virtual event saw over a hundred participants.

Also speaking at the event were HR and medical practitioners, including Gifty Fordwuo, Head of HR of Standard Chartered Bank Ghana; Dzifa Romanu Mensah, Senior Manager, HR, Enterprise Life, Ghana and Gambia and Dr Rex Kwame Bonsu, Internal Medicine Resident, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

On her part, Mrs Fordwuo admonished Practitioners to consider some steps in ensuring workers’ productivity remotely.

“HR managers have to position themselves strategically to provide ingenious solutions that balance business sustainability and the health and wellbeing of employees,” she said.

From her perspective, one of the best ways to manage the workplace amid this Covid-19 pandemic is to consider remote working as part of the norm.

Dr Rex Kwame Bonsu, answering a participant’s question on the effects of the vaccine, said, “The best way of stopping the Virus’ spread is by understanding the virus better and putting measures in place to curb the spread.

"Viruses are very stubborn, and since Covid-19 is a relatively new virus, scientists are still working around the clock to learn a lot about it, even as it keeps mutating.”

Mrs Dzifa Romanu Mensah ended her speech by stating that “the HR’s role in work-life integration is to maintain and enhance employee engagement and equip employees working from home with the necessary tools, skills and knowledge through relevant capacity building”.

Some key insights from all interactions touched on the need to consider remote working as a permanent addition to the working world.

It also touched on the importance of hygiene and social distance protocols, to stay safe, and organisations providing the necessary tools to ensure a safe working environment to maintain the physical and mental wellbeing of their staff.

This year, HR Focus has organised three HR Interactive session so far, and have one more event ahead of their grand annual conference; The HR Focus Conference and Awards.

These HR Interactive events feature distinguished speakers and panellists who discuss relevant issues affecting the world of work.