The Josh Bersin Company, a renowned human capital advisory firm, recently honored two exceptional HR leaders with its prestigious “HR Hero” accolades at the Irresistible 2024: The Global Conference for HR Leaders and Their Team. Ty Breland, EVP & Chief Human Resources Officer at Marriott International, and Joanne Smith, EVP and Chief People Officer at Delta Air Lines, received this recognition for their remarkable efforts in supporting and caring for their employees during and after the pandemic, significantly enhancing the employee experience (EX) and making their workplaces truly “irresistible.”
Marriott International demonstrated agility and sensitivity in navigating the challenges posed by the pandemic. Despite a significant revenue decline in March 2022 and the necessity of substantial furloughs, the company rebounded swiftly as travel restrictions eased. The Senior Leadership Team engaged in a comprehensive listening tour to gauge employee needs and perspectives, leading to the implementation of a “Growing Forward” strategy. This strategy encompassed various initiatives:
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Maintaining employee engagement:
Marriott International introduced virtual town halls, employee pulse surveys, and a dedicated support hotline to foster ongoing communication and address employee concerns.-
Supporting furloughed employees:
The company offered financial assistance, career counseling, and mental health support to furloughed employees, demonstrating a commitment to their well-being.-
Creating a culture of recognition:
Marriott International launched a global recognition program to celebrate employee contributions and foster a sense of appreciation.Similarly, Delta Air Lines encountered substantial challenges during the pandemic. Under Joanne Smith’s leadership, HR pivoted to “pandemic support mode,” with recruiters assisting vaccination and testing sites and overseeing a significant workforce transition. Delta’s HR team effectively managed unpaid leaves for 50,000 employees, avoiding furloughs. Later, they orchestrated a massive hiring initiative that welcomed 40,000 new employees. Smith attributes these achievements to Delta’s century-old core values, particularly “perseverance,” which transformed into “resilience” during the pandemic, driving exceptional results.
Josh Bersin, global industry analyst and CEO of The Josh Bersin Company, commented: “It is a testament to the passion and energy of the modern HR profession that as remarkable as these stories are, in terms of the sacrifice and care HR leaders displayed during the pandemic, they are actually far from unique.
“Nonetheless, Ty and Joanne went even beyond that high bar, and truly embodying the promise we all made to ourselves during what we called The Great Reset to be more human and connected.
“It’s a genuine pleasure to single out the achievement of the Marriott International and Delta Air Lines teams, who exemplify the transformative power of human-centric HR leadership in shaping resilient and thriving workplaces.