How the Covid-19 Pandemic is impacting hiring within organisations and why now is the right time to look at contract or On-Demand resources

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across the globe, companies are adopting different strategies to contribute towards containing the spread of the virus as well as ensure that there is minimal interference with business. As a result of these measures, the hiring processes in many companies have been affected. The following are ways on which the pandemic is limiting the ability of companies to engage full-time hires during this period.

Pandemic specific policies

As companies respond to the pandemic, one of the strategies they are employing is the development of policies that guide how the companies run during this period. These policies are mostly in line with the guidelines provided by the CDC and various governments on how to ensure that the spread of the virus is contained (Nadeem, 2020). Such policies may limit the companies from engaging full-time procurement professionals as a way of protecting the existing employees and adhering to the set guidelines. Resultantly, the procurement related tasks could be less supported. This is can be problematic as many tasks that need to be supported are critical. During times such as these, procurement is instrumental to ensure supply of goods and services continues without disruption so that businesses can continue to operate. This is particularly important for organizations that are involved in front line efforts to halt the impact of the virus.

Shortage of workforce

The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a shortage of the workforce (Recruitment and hiring during COVID-19 | Working during COVID-19, n.d.). This has occurred on two fronts.

• Increased anxiety among the workers: The spread of the virus has increased anxiety among workers affecting their willingness to be engaged as employees. As such, persons seek to keep safe, jobs that would result in them contracting the virus are declined.

• With the change in sentiment, one of the biggest challenges that organizations are facing is people’s willingness to move roles. This, like any market downturn is due to individuals seeking greater stability with their employment rather than stepping into the unknown. Although those who are currently employed are in this boat, there is definitely a significant talent pool of procurement professionals who are available and ready to take on short term assignments.

• Efforts to contain the spread of the virus have demanded that people should stay at home as much as possible and avoid physical contact, as the virus is spread through contact. This has limited some of the HR procedures involved to make a hire. For example, as many supply chain worker get anxious, applications for the jobs have reduced (Nadeem, 2020). Secondly, for some jobs, interviewing and induction processes cannot be done using the different online platforms. Some need close contact and monitoring of employees, which has been greatly discouraged. As a result, engaging full-time hires is compromised.

Leveraging on Technology

Many companies have started exploring the potential of using technology to complete various tasks at the workplace. As a result, the number of employees needed to work in the companies has reduced. With artificial intelligence, for instance, supply chain clients can get responses to various questions regarding services they are interested in. Hiring full-time procurement and supply chain staff has, therefore, become less necessary.

With changing circumstances comes challenges that organizations need to address and there is definitely a strong case now for companies to consider taking on short term resources to get past immediate hurdles. There will be global directives as organizations face uncertainty and these may not take into account the work that needs to still be done. 

Russell Harrison is the Executive Advisor at The Supply Advisory (a division of Datasearch Consulting), a leading executive recruitment firm specialising in Procurement & Supply Chain.

You can view the The Supply Advisory website or contact them directly at info@supplyadvisory.com for a more detailed discussion.