The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on human resources management functions in accommodation businesses: The case of Kuşadası

The Covid 19 Pandemic has adversely affected all sectors in Turkey as well as all over the world. Due to its labor-intensive nature, the tourism sector is one of the most injured sectors during the pandemic process. In the pandemic process, which requires re-evaluation and redesign of each of the human resources functions, accommodation businesses, which constitute the basic building block of the tourism sector and have the highest labor intensity, have emerged as the businesses that have to manage their human resources processes in the healthiest way. In this context, in the thesis study, it is aimed to investigate how and how the Covid 19 pandemic affects the human resources functions of accommodation businesses. Based on this purpose, an interview form including 4 demographic, 5 open-ended and 14 closed-ended questions was prepared using the semi-structured interview method in the qualitative research design, and 17 5-star accommodation enterprises operating in the borders of Kuşadası district between 7.10.2021 and 21.11.2021 were interviewed. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with the resource manager. As a result of the research, it was found that all of the performance, training, planning and remuneration functions, especially the occupational safety and worker health function, were negatively affected by the process. Based on the findings, various suggestions have been developed, such as HR managers to work on the solution of the economic and psychological problems experienced by the staff of the accommodation establishments during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, and quantitative studies on the effects of the process on the personnel of the accommodation establishments in the academic literature.