Question

The vice president of human resources for a national electronics retailer is meeting with employees of several stores to present information to workers that their stores are closing and how the company will help employees in the future. Here, the vice president of HR is playing a(n) _______ role.

Answer 1

The vice president of HR plays a communication role when informing employees of store closures. He or she could also be seen as a change agent, managing the transition and support for affected employees during company downsizing.

Step-by-step explanation:

The vice president of human resources for a national electronics retailer, who is meeting with employees to discuss their store closures and future assistance, is fulfilling a communication role. In this role, the vice president is responsible for delivering sensitive news and explaining the company's response plan. This can involve detailing severance packages, outplacement services, and support for job transitions which reflects a domain of the industrial-organizational psychology within the organization's HR department.

When engaging with employees during restructuring or downsizing, HR leaders need to provide clear, empathetic, and comprehensive communication. The vice president's role here also overlaps with that of a change agent, as they are initiating a transition for the employees and possibly looking to maintain morale and productivity during the process.