Over the last two decades we have witnessed several major crises that have affected the global economy, such as the Asian Financial Crisis, terrorist attacks such as 9-11, and the Global Financial Crisis. Most recently, the COVID-19 crisis has had a catastrophic impact on organizations across the world as governments close borders and lockdown whole sectors of the economy. In most economies business organizations have had to decide whether or not to lay-off or stand-down staff, whether or not to reduce staff benefits, and determine how these things should be done within short time frames. Businesses have also had to develop strategies to support employees’ performance, engagement, creativity, and wellbeing, whilst working remotely, and support employees to manage their carer responsibilities and other impeding personal factors. In view of the significant consequences that crises have for human resource management, researchers have begun to look at the HR practices adopted by organizations in times of crisis (Chu and Siu, 2001; Gunnigle et al., 2013; Kim et al., 2013; Sparrow et al., 2013; Teague and Roche, 2014; Zagelmeyer et al., 2012). However, we have witnessed limited research on how such HR practices are implemented by managers and impact on employees (Farndale et al., 2019; Lee et al., 2003; Zagelmeyer and Gollan, 2012). We therefore call on researchers to investigate how employees respond to human resource management practices adopted by business organizations in times of crisis and how human resource practitioners support and manage employees in times of crisis, with a focus on but not limited to, innovative technology-based human resource solutions (e.g. online training interventions and virtual performance management).
Provisional Timeline and Review Process
Full Manuscript Submission Deadline: May 31st 2021
Initial Decision Deadline: August 31st 2021
Revised Manuscript Submission Deadline (1st Round): December 31st 2021
1st Round Decision Deadline: February 28th 2022
Revised Manuscript Submission Deadline (2nd Round): June 31st 2022
2nd Round Decision Deadline: August 31st 2022