HR Leaders Faced the Pandemic, Remote Work, and Now AI but Rarely Gets Credit for It

"“HR is often the messenger,” Boyd said. “But the decisions ultimately come from leadership.”"

"“When COVID-19 shut down offices around the world, HR departments became the operational backbone of companies overnight. Policies had to be written immediately: who could work remotely, how to support essential workers, and how to keep teams connected during uncertainty.”"

"“HR leaders were responsible for guiding employees through multiple crises at once,” she explained. “There was the operational challenge, but also the emotional one. People were worried about their health, their families, and their jobs.”"

HR is frequently blamed during difficult moments, but decisions come from leadership while HR often serves as the messenger. A chief people officer with decades of experience across major companies has seen the role evolve over time. In recent years, HR leaders have managed the human infrastructure of organizations through repeated crises, largely behind the scenes. The pandemic shifted HR into crisis command centers when offices closed worldwide. HR departments had to write policies immediately, including remote-work eligibility, support for essential workers, and ways to keep teams connected amid uncertainty. HR also guided employees through overlapping operational and emotional challenges involving health, families, and jobs.

Read at Inc