Crisis management in human resources: the role of the interim HR director

An expert in crisis management, the interim HR director is a real ally in overcoming a delicate situation that jeopardizes the company’s human capital. But what is its role? How does his intervention work? And who should you turn to to manage a human resources crisis?

 

What is an interim HR director? Role and missions

The interim HR director is an interim manager who specialises in the HR function. This is a professional external to the company who intervenes, on an ad hoc basis, within an organization to carry out a mission with strategic stakes and whose duration can extend from 6 to 18 months.

He is a highly qualified leader with solid expertise and a thorough knowledge of emergency and crisis management.

 

Crisis management: why call on an interim HR director?

The interim HR director, an expert in human resources management, can be used in a wide range of scenarios. He may first be asked to compensate for the absence of an HR Director who has left his or her position.

The interim human resources manager can also help the company to manage significant change (implementation of an HRIS, manage a restructuring, manage human resources during a merger-acquisition, etc.) or manage a complex recruitment operation with major challenges.

This interim manager will be a real asset in steering management in times of crisis within the HR department, whatever the nature of this crisis:

• a lack of leadership,
• the closure of a site,
• a reduction in the number of staff,
• a disengagement of employees,
• strikes,
• a health crisis,
• a social conflict…

 

The interim HR Director will be able to activate the necessary levers to stabilize the situation and reduce the impact of the crisis on the HR plan.

Experienced in the management of emergency, tense and conflictual situations, he will be able to deploy the necessary means to preserve a benevolent social climate and to ensure the commitment of employees throughout this delicate turn.

The role of the interim manager and HRM in times of crisis will be to:

• Preserve the company’s employer brand.
• Maintain social dialogue.
• Ensure close and transparent internal communication throughout crisis management.
• Implement a business continuity plan (BCP) to anticipate and reduce the risks and impacts of the crisis.
• Establish a prevention and safety policy at work to limit psychosocial risks among employees.
• To re-establish a serene working environment conducive to operational efficiency.
• Negotiate redundancy plans with the unions.
• Implement a training plan and ensure skills development.
• Preserve the human capital of the company and help maintain harmonious social relations.
• Preserve the continuity of daily missions (personnel management, career management, etc.).
• Implement a forward-looking management of jobs and skills (GPEC).
• …

 

Entrust your crisis management to an HR interim manager with WAYDEN

WAYDEN, an interim management company, has a pool of 8,000 experienced, hand-picked interim managers.

We select a highly qualified interim HR director, specialized in the sector of activity concerned and whose profile, skills and interpersonal skills are adapted to the challenges and particularities of the crisis.

Our human resources management experts have a long career of 15 to 25 years in high-ranking positions. They also have managerial skills and skills Human qualities that are essential in the event of crisis management : composure, stress management, responsiveness, pragmatism, audacity, leadership, integrity, etc.

Confronted with multiple crisis situations throughout their professional career, they are endowed with unparalleled know-how, cross-functional knowledge (employment law, administrative management, personnel administration, management, etc.) and operational excellence from the moment they join the company.