Wharton Club Of DC

Overview

The contract between employers and employees has changed enormously over the last decade. Traditionally firms’ responsibilities to workers have been simple: provide economic security and a sense of community. Covid-19 shifted this relationship significantly, with employees coming to expect flexible working, less supervision and a greater emphasis on their personal health and well-being.

Now the world is facing huge economic challenges and reeling from geopolitical and energy shocks. As a result, staff are starting to worry about their ongoing access to recently won support and benefits as businesses begin to cut back.

Meanwhile, tech innovation is gaining pace. As generative AI is becoming mainstream, some people and organisations are celebrating its potential to improve productivity. Others fear losing out to the technology, especially as few companies can now afford extensive upskilling and reskilling. Job cuts and losing access to support can erode the trust between firms and workers. There is much to be stressed about.

Agenda

Join Economist Impact and a panel of experts as we discuss balancing employer and employee needs in turbulent times.

Questions we will address include:

• How will the contract between organisations and their staff evolve in these increasingly turbulent times?

• How can business leaders support their people amid lay-offs and shrinking budgets?

• What can be done to establish and maintain trust?

• How can leaders ensure all generations in the workforce are equally supported?

• What are the best ways to make use of new technology with buy-in from employees, at the same time as companies are tightening their belts?

• How responsible are employers for upskilling and reskilling their people to stay relevant to new organisational needs?