Abstract
This study sought to establish the
effect of COVID-19 containment strategies on human resource management
practices in ISO 9001:2015 certified firms in Kenya. The study adopted
descriptive research design in obtaining data from 139 senior
management staff. Key
findings after analyzing 110 responses are that in 93.6% of the firms, the
pandemic had affected Human Resource systems, practices and procedures (mean
response 3.9). In 70.2% of the firms, the respondents
indicated that current human resource policies do not adequately support
remote working by employees (Mean
response 2.4), while in 70.9% of the firms, offsite working had
negatively affected employees’ productivity (mean response 3.1). In 72.4% of
the firms, the management had provided adequate COVID-19 training to all staff
(mean response 3.3), while in 64.5% of the firms, working from home had not
enhanced safety and mental wellbeing of employees during lockdowns (mean
response 3.3). The findings suggest that ISO 9001:2015 certified firms in Kenya
are facing people management challenges during the pandemic, hence
non-optimization of the human resource factor. The study concluded that there are outstanding knowledge gaps, though it
is evident that the pandemic has affected working practices in ISO 9001:2015
certified firms in Kenya, with implications on economic recovery post COVID-19.
The study recommends review of human
resource policies
except those mandated by law. The
policy review should promote
safety at workplaces, catering for medical costs, training on executive
leadership and skills development to support remote working and psychological
wellbeing of employees. Future research opportunities include establishing how work context in remote locations
influence employee behavior and actions. The expected study output upon
successful implementation of the given recommendations is enhanced performance
of ISO 9001:2015 certified firms in Kenya.
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