Wednesday, May 29, 2024 The Josh Bersin Company, a leading human capital advisory firm, has awarded its “HR Hero” accolades to two influential HR leaders during the Irresistible 2024: The Global Conference for HR Leaders and Their Team. These awards highlight the exceptional support and care these leaders provided to their employees during and post-pandemic, significantly enhancing the employee experience (EX) and making their workplaces truly “irresistible.” The 2024 Irresistible HR Hero award recipients are Ty Breland, EVP & Chief Human Resources Officer at Marriott International, and Joanne Smith, EVP and Chief People Officer at Delta Air Lines.
Marriott International responded swiftly and sensitively to the pandemic. Despite a 90% drop in revenue in March 2022 and substantial furloughs, the company rebounded strongly as travel restrictions eased. The Senior Leadership Team initiated a “Growing Forward” strategy after conducting an extensive listening tour to understand employee needs and perspectives.
This strategy included: Similarly, Delta Air Lines faced drastic challenges during the pandemic. Under Joanne Smith’s leadership, HR shifted to “pandemic support mode,” with recruiters aiding vaccination and testing sites and managing a significant transition in the workforce. Delta’s HR team effectively managed unpaid leaves for 50,000 employees, avoiding furloughs and later orchestrating a massive hiring initiative that welcomed 40,000 new employees.
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