HRM interventions in SMEs during the Covid-19 pandemic crisis

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to present HRM interventions undertaken by SMEs during the crisis caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus. The research was conducted in 2021, following a critical moment of the crisis, which was expressed by a decrease in the incidence of the disease and the easing of restrictions introduced at the beginning of the pandemic. Research design: The exploratory research was conducted on a sample of 200 companies. The surveyed companies were from south-eastern Poland, from the voivodeships of Silesia, Lesser Poland and Subcarpathia. Material for the analysis was obtained through semi-structured telephone interviews with their owners or managers. Descriptive statistics and a Chi-square test were used to analyze the data due to the qualitative nature of the variables. Findings: The COVID-19 pandemic had a varied impact on the operations of the surveyed SMEs. Among the solutions introduced to cope with the pandemic challenges were reducing the scope/complexity of tasks, introducing crisis management solutions, or limiting the company’s activities. In the area of people management, the examined companies made changes to their work organization, undertook activities aimed at supporting employees, and actions aimed at reducing labor costs. The measures taken were aimed, on the one hand, at ensuring the company's survival and, on the other hand, at creating conditions to maintain the current state of employment. Research limitations/implications: The selection of 3 regions took into account the share of active SMEs in relation to the total number of SMEs in Poland. This made the research sample representative. Nevertheless, the diversity of companies belonging to the SMEs sector justifies the need for further research on both their experiences during the pandemic and its impact on the functioning of SMEs in the new post-pandemic reality. Value: The results presented in the article contribute to the still limited knowledge of HRM in SMEs under crisis conditions, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.