HR's Role in a Crisis: Best Practices for Emergency Preparedness

When a crisis strikes or an emergency situation arises, HR plays an essential role. But understanding how to prepare, who to involve, and what to do first, especially if you’re an HR team of one, can be overwhelming. Join us in this webinar as we walk through what HR can and can’t do in emergencies and how to build proactive plans that protect both people and operations. In this session, you’ll hear how to:

• Define what is in and out of HR’s scope during a crisis, and how to determine who owns what.
• Build and test practical emergency plans that signal care for employees.
• Tailor your preparedness to your workforce footprint and specific needs.

Kelsey Tarp is Director, HR Business Partners, Human Resources at BambooHR. Tarp is an HR leader, executive coach, and strategic advisor with over 15 years of experience helping organizations and their people grow. At BambooHR, she leads the HR Business Partner and Employee Relations functions, partnering with leaders to drive clarity, trust, and business performance. Her career spans financial services and tech, with more recent roles at Amazon, Salesforce, and Tableau. Tarp is passionate about building AI literacy in HR and creating cultures where excellence and fun coexist.

Vanessa Brulotte is Employee Relations Partner, Human Resources at BambooHR. Brulotte is the dedicated Employee Relations Partner at BambooHR, where she excels in conducting workplace investigations related to policy violations and providing valuable guidance to leadership on performance management. With over 8 years of experience at BambooHR, she has leveraged the software in various capacities, including talent acquisition, leadership, and HR roles. She is passionate about engaging in conversations about recruiting and HR strategies and their profound impact on organizational success. In her free time, Brulotte loves diving deep into massive, legendary worlds like Star Wars and Lord of the Rings, embracing her #coolnerd status.