Transformational HRM: Human resources management research trends in the Covid-19 period 2020-2024

Background and Purpose: The COVID-19 crisis has accelerated shifts in HRM, creating urgent needs for research on organizational adaptability, employee well-being, and digital transformation.This study aimed to identify prevailing research topics, the most influential authors and institutions as well as to reveal existing gaps and outline future research directions. Methodology: The study was conducted employing the bibliometric analysis and using the Scopus database. 848 scientific articles published in 2020-2024 were selected. Keyword co-occurrence, collaboration networks and other analysis methods were used to identify the most frequently studied topics, the most influential scientists and institutions, and the geographical distribution of research. Findings: The study revealed five main clusters of HRM research: digitalization and HRM, response to the COVID-19 crisis, communication and pandemic challenges, human health and work styles, and digital transformation. Short-term challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic were more often analyzed rather than long-term strategies related to the impact of digital transformation on employee motivation and organizational environment. The geographic analysis revealed a disproportion of research: authors from the USA, China and India dominated scientific publications, while other regions were less represented, which may limit the globality and applicability of research in other countries. Contributions: The study contributes to scientific literature by providing a systematic view of HRM research during the pandemic and revealing under-researched areas, such as long-term consequences of digital transformation and change in organizational culture. At the practical level, the findings will help organizations to develop more sustainable and systematic HRM strategies that would ensure not only prompt response to crises but also long-term employee engagement and organizational resilience. Keywords: Human resources management, COVID-19, digital transformation, remote working, resilience.