Identifying critical HR competencies for post-pandemic HR professionals

The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented changes to the workplace, forcing organisations to adapt quickly to remote work, flexible arrangements, and digitalisation. Human Resource (HR) professionals played a significant role in managing these transitions, ensuring employee well-being, and implementing new workplace policies and procedures. However, there is scant research on the competencies required by HR professionals to navigate the post-pandemic work environment successfully. This study aims to identify the critical HR competencies needed for HR professionals to thrive in the post-pandemic era. To address the research objective, a qualitative research approach was employed, which involved semi-structured interviews conducted online and face-to-face with nine HR professionals who participated in the study. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings provide insights for HR professionals and organisations to develop effective HR practices and successfully support the transition to the post-pandemic work environment. Six themes emerged from the study: the Role of HR in the Post-Pandemic Work Environment, HR Competencies in the Post-Pandemic Work Environment, the Evolution of Critical HR Competencies in the Post-Pandemic Era, Challenges Faced by HR Professionals, Future-Proofing HR Competencies and Roles, and Professional Development.  Given the limited existing studies on HR competencies in the post-pandemic period, further research is recommended in this area. Key Words:Covid-19, Remote Work (WFH), Digitalisation, HR Professionals, Post-Pandemic Era, HR Competencies