6 Crisis Trends: A snapshot from the “people people”

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News & Ideas

6 Crisis Trends: A snapshot from the “people people”

July 14th, 2020by David Goott

We asked professionals focused on talent in Jewish organizations about their people-oriented policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are some of their answers.

Leading Edge recently asked members of our talent community — professionals focused on recruiting, HR, retention, and other people-oriented work, as well as organizational leaders — to fill out a brief survey to share with us how their organizations have been responding to the COVID-19 crisis. Our questions focused on three areas:

Personnel shifts;
Changes to HR policies and benefits; and
Ways organizations are supporting employees' health and well-being.

We received responses from 95 organizations, including Federations, JCCs, educational institutions, national umbrella organizations, and more. The sample represented a broad range of Jewish organizations in North America, but we should emphasize that this was not a random sample. So these results can't be generalized or considered a precise representation of the full field. Nonetheless, these organizations represent a significant number of prominent Jewish organizations, so we feel some of these insights are worth sharing.

Here are our top 6 takeaways:

1. Returning to the workplace: Most of these organizations don't have a clear timetable.

Pie chart displaying results to the question, "When does your organization intend to return to the workplace?" 46% Are still determining when to return, 23% Before the end of 2020, 8% Are still determining whether to return at all, 5% Have always operated remotely.

"Other" responses include organizations that may require only certain teams or departments to return to the office, or will allow employees the choice of whether to return or to work remotely.

2. PTO and vacation policy: More than half of these organizations have either already made changes to PTO or vacation policies since the pandemic began, are planning such changes, or are considering such changes.

Pie chart displaying results to the question, "Have you made changes to your PTO or vacation policies since the pandemic began?" 41% No and we don't plan to, 27% Yes, 21% We are still determining if we need to, 6% No but we plan to, 6% Other.

3. Furloughs & layoffs: A majority of these organizations have either laid people off, furloughed people, or are planning/considering layoffs or furloughs.

Pie chart displaying results to the question, "Have you furloughed or laid off employees since the pandemic?" 45% No and we don't plan to, 22% No but plan to or are considering it, 12% Have laid off but not furloughed, 9% Have furloughed but not laid off, 12% Have both furloughed and laid off.

4. Salary reductions: A majority of these organizations are not reducing salaries, but many have done so or are considering it.

Pie chart displaying results to the question, "Have you reduced salaries since the pandemic began?" 52% No and we don't plan to, 14% Yes, 13% We are still determining if we will need to, 4% No but we plan to, 17% Other.

"Other" responses include organizations that have reduced salaries but only for certain roles or departments.

Salary reductions have taken different forms at different organizations — from across-the-board reductions to tiered salary cuts to cuts targeted by department or role.

5. Shifting roles and responsibilities: More than half of these organizations have either shifted employee roles / responsibilities since the pandemic began, or are either planning or considering such shifts.

Pie chart displaying results to the question, "Have you significantly shifted roles/responsibilities since the pandemic began?" 36% Yes, 35% No and we don't plan to, 14% We are still evaluating whether or not we will need to, 4% No but we plan to, 11% Other.

The majority of the other responses indicate that minor shifts have been made, but nothing significant.

6. Employee support programs: Most of these organizations are providing support, either formally or informally.

Pie chart displaying results to the question, "Have you implemented any internal employee support programs?" 52% Yes, 26% No, and 22% responded Other.

"Other" responses include organizations that are checking in with staff more frequently or providing external supports where possible, but have not created formal programs.

The bottom line

The picture our informal survey paints is one of a field still facing considerable uncertainty around how their staffing and talent strategies will be impacted by the ongoing health crisis. If leaders, lay leaders, funders, and managers knew how long the COVID-19 pandemic would last, these decisions would be easier and the strain on our field would be less severe. Organizations are doing what they can and must to maintain financial viability in this environment — cognizant that the field is only as strong as its people, but operating within painful constraints.