Who on earth has ever thought of the challenges that 2020 would bring? HR professionals have certainly not imagined the challenges that COVID-19 has dawned on them. The uncertainty has crushed the economy, employees are in stressful situations, and HR professionals are trying their best to keep everything in perspective and aligned. But is it as easy as it sounds?.The sudden shift in work culture has brought new challenges for HR. The top priority for HR professionals is now crisis response and how to keep the employees engaged, provide the right communication channels and tools for remote work, and more. Most leaders believe they're only 'somewhat ready' to deal with the outbreak. Almost 7 in 10 HR leaders cite crisis management or business continuity planning as their top challenge during the COVID-19 outbreak. Close behind on their list of priorities include managing flexible work arrangements and employee communications to increase awareness.