How HR Adapted to a Virtual Format

In pre-COVID times, the HR department conducted almost everything from employee trainings to background checks in person. The transition to a virtual format this quarter was quite the challenge, but overall a huge success.

Some of the most integral HR programs include its new employee training and unique workplace workshops. According to the director of Employee and Organization Development, Lanaya Gaberel, HR previously held multiple in person events. This included a six hour, in-person New Employee Training, a 16-hour workshop series called the “Principles of Supervision” for better supervision and management skills as well as a two hour “Exposing Hidden Bias” workshop. All of these programs have now been moved online with asynchronous and synchronous elements that allow employees to still learn and connect with one another.

Additionally, due to this new virtual nature, HR was able to also offer employees a new series called, “Cross-campus Collaboration workshops”. These workshops provide employees an opportunity to interact and learn from other CSU professionals on various topics such as self-coaching, respect in the workplace, collaborative leadership, and more.

Workshops and trainings aside, there were many other factors that went into a completely virtual HR. According to the director of Talent Acquisition, Samson Blackwell, these include:
• Employee support services are now offered for any question or concern with the creation of the Virtual Help Desk and Call Center. The Virtual Help Desk allows for face-to-face support while the Call Center provides a call line run by a ticketing system, which allows for anyone on the HR team to have access to answering the question at hand.
• All new employee background checks and identification verifications, with few exceptions, are done online thanks to the payroll team.
• All forms and signatures have now transitioned to Adobe Sign, which decreases the risk of lost paperwork and is more sustainable.

Changes like these have the potential to become permanent because of the newly discovered added benefits and increased efficiency.

If you have any questions or concerns, please use the following information and links for assistance:
805-756-7000
servicedesk@calpoly.edu
Submit a Ticket