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International Journal of Human Resource & Industrial Research

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN GHANA’S PUBLIC SECTOR: THE EXPERIENCE OF THE DRIVER AND VEHICLE LICENSING AUTHORITY (DVLA)

AKPEKO AGBEVADE

Department of Political Science, School of Social Sciences, University Of Ghana, Legon. ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6580-5393

DOI : https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7623550 Page No : 01-19

Published Online : 2022-12-30

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ABSTRACT

Aim of the study: The aim of the study was to examine the human resource management interventions implemented by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority in Ghana and how they shaped the work life balance of employees during the COVID-19 pandemic and the effect of the strategies on performance.

Design/Methodology: The study was a case study that deployed the mixed method and the person-environment fit theory.

Findings: The results indicate that the DVLA implemented a variety of strategies such as communication, training and development, performance management, employee health, safety and wellbeing. The strategies affected the work life balance of employees based on their marital status. Similarly, the strategies also impacted the performance of employees in various ways. Finally, the DVLA made some gains due to the interventions implemented.

Practical Implications: The strategies implemented at the height of the pandemic were knee-jet approaches; the work from home strategies affected the work life balance and performance of employees, however, significant results would have been attained if there were effective monitoring mechanisms in place. The paper recommends that HR practitioners should be proactive in policy issues and initiate monitoring and evaluation measures to tackle human resource issues at all times. The findings also confirm the assertion that human resource is the most important resource available to organisations and that if the appropriate human resource programmes are designed and implemented in a coordinated manner, organisations will surmount every difficulty including the COVID-19.

Originality/Value: The current study does not only make a significant contribution to the extant literature on COVID-19 and human resource management response strategies but also it brings to the fore practical responses to the pandemic based on empirical evidence from a specific public sector organisation (DVLA).

Keywords: Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, COVID-19, human resource management, work life balance, working from home, strategies, interventions

Paper type: Research Paper

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Cite This Article As: Agbevade A (2022), “Human Resource Management Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic in Ghana’s Public Sector: The Experience of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA)”, International Journal of Human Resource & Industrial Research, Volume 9, Issue 2, 2022, pp 01-19. DOI : https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7623550

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