A new survey report of the PES Network highlights how staff management practices in Public Employment Services (PES) have evolved in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Key trends include reskilling staff to adapt to changing services or delivery models – especially digitalisation of services – and increased remote or hybrid work. There is also a greater focus on staff engagement, feedback, health and wellbeing.

© PES Network

The new PES Network study PES staff management – challenges in the ‘new normal’ highlights that internal management responses to COVID-19 - focused on reallocation of staff, health-related measures and online working practices - have changed staff expectations and posed new challenges for ongoing staff management.

Almost all of the surveyed PES have introduced tools to support remote work, such as new communication platforms and channels, digital performance management tools, training, practices to support the well-being of staff and managers, and/or adapted management cultures based increasingly on trust and task-based management.

Whilst the majority of PES have not changed their overall staff levels, over half have implemented some redeployment of staff, including to new functions and services, such as digital consultants/e-counsellors, data and business analysts, data scientists. Even more have invested in retraining or reskilling staff, particularly to develop employees’ digital competences, which remain an ongoing challenge for PES in terms of staff recruitment and training.

The report, which was based on a survey of 29 European PES and a review of relevant literature, also found that PES are increasingly using staff feedback to analyse employee needs and motivations, and address them accordingly. Responses include new or enhanced approaches to employee engagement, health monitoring and skills development.

The importance for the future of PES of soft skills, management competencies and shared values -such as inclusiveness, diversity and transparency - are also increasingly recognised.

As the report concludes “Co-operation and effective communication are key in developing policies that can contribute to the development of staff and organisations that can cope with future challenges of PES.”