Human Resource managers have seen their traditional roles evolve during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep their organizations active with multiple, simultaneous goals such as safety, work meaningfulness, and legal compliance. Using statistical and other systematically collected evidence, current topics such as the Great Resignation, the increasingly tight labor market, and the differential challenges experienced by women, by marginalized members of society, and by occupational segments are described. The conclusion includes a summary of societal issues that are most likely to continue challenging HRM professional roles, hence urgently requiring research attention.
Dr. Miguel R. Olivas-Luján is a professor and former chair of the Management & Marketing department. His research includes Innovation, Information Technology, Human Resources, Evidence-based Management, Diversity, Bullying, and Culture. Miguel has published (in four different languages) more than one hundred articles in scientific journals, business periodicals, conference proceedings, book chapters, and encyclopedic entries. Former Management Education and Development (MED) division chair for the US-based Academy of Management (AOM), he has helped other professional associations such as the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and Pennsylvania State University’s Centre for International Human Resource Studies (CIHRS). Besides Pennsylvania, he has taught short seminars to full courses in Argentinean, Canadian, Dutch, German, Mexican, Polish, and Spanish universities. His next co-edited book, titled Smart Industry, Better Management is on schedule for publication in 2022.
An earlier version of this presentation was delivered as a Keynote Address to begin the 11th Annual Conference of Chairs in Human Resource Management in Lublin (Poland), at the University Marie Curie-Sklodowska (UMCS) on September 27th. This is the first time that Dr. Olivas delivers a keynote address from his own bedroom, and he is looking forward to sharing this work with a local audience.