Zurich | 2020 has sparked 'creativity in how we approach learning'

The way in which employees learn and upskill themselves arguably was fairly simple for HR leaders to manage pre-COVID-19, as staff were left to self-discipline and lead their own path when it came to their own learning and development (L&D). Now, however, with employees working from home and due to their constant use of technology, L&D has started to shift away from the traditional means.

The times where employees were able to join a workshop, buddy up with colleagues to learn a new skill or attend a physical event have now passed, forcing this integral element of HR to move into the virtual sphere. This has left many employees with virtual learning as their only choice. While online courses were indeed a popular part of L&D pre-coronavirus, due to the increase of video calls and Zoom meetings, the idea of sitting on a screen in their spare time to learn a new skill is no longer desirable for many employees.

For example, recent research by Myna shared that almost half of homeworkers are suffering from ‘Zoom fatigue’. This is due to the heavy use of video software and platforms including Slack, Microsoft Teams and Zoom, which has seen usage ramp up exponentially as employers and employees try to stay in touch virtually.

Due to this, however, Caroline Caddick, People Development Manager at Swiss insurance company Zurich, has shared that the pandemic has sparked a great deal of creativity among HR teams as they look to make L&D as enticing as it once was, while also encouraging employees to take on self-development. “This year has given a rise to some real creativity in how we approach learning,” Caddick told HR Grapevine. She revealed that this has prompted the underwriting team at Zurich to develop a virtual summer camp for the underwriters, which they could use to continue to build their skills, something that may have not been thought of a few months back when workplaces were open.