ENSURING EMOTIONAL FITNESS OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS THROUGH EMPLOYEE CHAMPION ROLE OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Abstract

BACKGROUND With the outbreak of COVID-19 the emotional health problems of healthcare workers have been further aggravated. If now left unaddressed this can lead to distress as well affect their effectiveness at work. It becomes essential to look at those specific emotional needs of healthcare workers, enabling them experience emotional well –being at different levels. OBJECTIVE This study examines the Human Resource (HR) Champion approach in combating the emotional health problems of healthcare workers. The objectives of the study included identifying the different emotional needs of Health care workers, mapping the various Human Resource Champion roles towards each of the identified emotional needs of workers and the different levels of emotional well-being. The study further looks at the feasibility/availability of the various identified employee champion roles in healthcare. METHODS Based on a mini review the purpose of the paper is to create a unique synthesis and proposal for utility of healthcare organizations The exploration included terms of search in combination and in particular related to emotional fitness of healthcare workers, COVID-19, HR role in managing employee stress, workplace stress, employee champion and HR champion. The potential chances of subjectivity in selection of the papers cannot be overlooked though the various databases used for review include Google Scholar, Web of Science, Semantic Scholar which provides the most cited work RESULTS The study reports a negative influence of pandemic on HCW’s mental health. The identified needs of healthcare workers during the pandemic include caring, protecting, hearing, preparing and supporting them. The identified needs have been mapped towards the various HR champions i.e., physical, social, financial, emotional, work-life integration and meaning in work champion. The various practices that were available and were considered feasible have also been evaluated. The fulfillment of the specific emotional needs of HCW’s can lead to emotional well- being at different levels including essentials, belonging, purpose and flourishing. But the fact remains that many of the champion roles are way far from being implemented in healthcare due to the nature of work and to an extent attitude of the management. CONCLUSIONS The findings of the study reveal that different employee champions can nurture the specific emotional needs of healthcare workers thereby leading to fulfillment of their emotional well-being at different levels. Some champion roles are more visible (physical and financial champions) as compared to work- life integration, social, emotional, meaning in work champions in healthcare organizations.