HR managers are fielding more complaints during COVID

HR managers have their hands full dealing with complaints and work issues among staff as employees work remotely.

Since the start of the pandemic, 48% of employees have reported a work issue to their HR department, according to a report by payroll services company Paychex. Forty-four percent of employees have received disciplinary action due to their behavior while working remotely.

COVID has been emotionally challenging for employers and employees: 84% say they have dealt with emotions related to stress — including anxiety, sadness and anger — according to a February survey by the American Psychological Association. Employees may be expressing these feelings in the workplace, resulting in HR complaints.

“As workplaces went online, management didn’t have a good way of making sure that people were nice to each other,” says May Habib, CEO of Writer, a text software platform. “In a physical workplace, you overhear things and may have to take someone aside and say, ‘That’s not our tone here.’ That’s much harder when everyone is online.”

Read more: LinkedIn coach shares tips to be happier at work

Fifty-two percent of HR complaints were associated with employee disputes, the Paychex survey found. A third of workplace complaints had to do with being denied time off of work, with women more likely than men to have their requests rejected.

HR managers have been challenged during the pandemic to adapt quickly to their employees’ needs and provide the support employees are requesting. Almost half of HR professionals said their biggest challenge during COVID has been dealing with concerns over employee morale and mental health.

Read more: How to address workplace toxicity in a virtual setting

“It's [not] the employer's job to provide happiness, but it's in their best interest to provide an environment where we can all do our best work,” says Scott Shute, head of LinkedIn's mindfulness and compassion programs. “The most successful companies are actively trying to create a great environment for their employees and that flows through every HR policy.”

HR should continue to bolster communication with employees and promote policies like flexible work arrangements to show employees they care. Empathy is critical to retaining talent and reducing bad behavior: 33% of employees said they are considering quitting due to a lack of empathy from their employer, Paychex found.

HR managers can rely on digital tools, frequent one-on-one check ins and morale-boosting social activities to create an environment where employees feel heard and valued, Habib says.

“Employers and workplaces are really making an effort to teach what conscious communication looks like and what contributes to a toxic workplace,” she says. “This is when we really need our workplace to be that place of belonging and a trusted community.”