January 17, 2023 in Davos
As the world emerges from COVID-19, new workforce challenges — including talent shortages, labor market tensions and the resurgence of unionization across many industry sectors — have highlighted a profound shift in the social contract between employers and employees, calling for a radical reassessment of how we think about work and jobs.
These fundamental shifts in the economy of work are reordering priorities and raising crucial questions:
As organizations recognize that doing good equates to doing well in this new era, environmental, social and governance issues have ascended to their place of proper prominence on companies’ strategic agendas. With earnings no longer the only measure of the “good” organizations are expected to achieve, companies should consider reconciling the needs of their shareholders and employees, forging new paths to meet demands for profitability while offering the competitive rewards that attract great people. To strike a balance that will be mutually beneficial, leaders can rely on empathy and economics to shape and lead their organizations in this new era. And reinvent work to become more flexible, agile and human-centric.
To support these aims, organizations can provide equitable and expansive rewards to build a more resilient workforce and differentiate themselves as attractive employers. They can embrace a holistic approach that will nourish their people’s physical and mental health, protect their financial well-being and prepare them for the future of work. It will call for innovations in digital health to promote health equity by improving access to affordable quality care. Ensuring people have the resources they need for retirement from both a financial and fulfillment perspective. And thinking beyond what jobs look like now, transforming existing work models to become more elastic and adaptive to develop a future-ready workforce and a more agile organization.
On January 17 in Davos, Mercer experts and a special guest panel of senior business leaders explored the path to progress and shared actionable plans aligned to clear business results and real-world impact. Together, we can innovate new approaches to work to build a more sustainable, equitable world.
On January 17, global senior business leaders joined Mercer thought leaders to explore a transformational path forward, sharing cutting-edge ideas and real-world examples for driving transformation.
Key insights
Africa
