To end the first season of Making Work ‘Work’, we revisit the question posed in the first episode: How do we make work lovable? Join our podcast host and leader for Mercer Workforce Solutions in the Pacific, Cynthia Cottrell, and Andrew Lafontaine, a Partner in the transformation business as they unpack the year. They discuss the concept of flexibility in the workplace, the challenges and tensions that come with it, and how to create a positive work experience for all employees. 

They also talk about the impact of the pandemic on work dynamics and the need for organisations to design jobs that work well in a hybrid work set up. The conversation also covers the issue of burnout and disengagement in the workforce, with a focus on the importance of creating a supportive and inclusive work environments.

They conclude by exploring a skills-first approach in creating lovable jobs and career pathways within organisations, highlighting the benefits for both employees and employers in terms of career development and strategic workforce planning.

Tune in to discover ways to make work more enjoyable and fulfilling for your people in 2024.

Creating Lovable Work in 2024: Reflections from season 1 of Making Work ‘Work’

There’s plenty to debate about where the HR agenda is heading. From hybrid work, to culture, total rewards, skills and AI - what will be the key trends for next year? We asked five experts from Mercer’s Workforce Solutions team to place their big bets for 2024. Tune in to our discussion to gain insights that will help you navigate the increasingly complex world of work.

In this interview, our host Cynthia Cottrell, welcomes David Guazzarotto, Leader for our Digital HR and Technology Advisory practice, and an authority on digital transformation for the workforce and reimagining HR for the digital age. They discuss the landscape of HR transformation, particularly in the context of generative AI and technology advancements. The conversation centres on the impact and immense potential that technology offers HR and the workforce.

Five key takeaways from the interview:

To learn more and access the episode’s transcript and references visit: https://www.mercer.com/en-au/insights/talent-and-transformation/podcast-making-work-work

Did you know that in Australia, the number of software engineers outnumbers plumbers, hairdressers, or baristas? Despite this, only 15% of Australia's STEM skilled workforce are women, a stark contrast to the nearly 50% female participation in the broader workforce.

Today, we delve into the efforts to bridge this gender gap in STEM fields. Our host, Cynthia Cottrell, shares her experiences as a woman in STEM, reflecting on the challenges she faced as one of the few females in her systems engineering major over 25 years ago. To shed light on empowering the next generation of girls in STEM, Cynthia sits down with Jenine Beekhuyzen, the visionary founder of Tech Girls Foundation. This remarkable organisation is on a mission to inspire young girls to pursue STEM careers through innovative initiatives and programs.

In this captivating conversation, Cynthia and Jenine underscore the importance of female role models and how witnessing successful women solving significant problems in STEM can ignite a spark of inspiration in young girls. They emphasise the need to create a supportive community that nurtures young talent and explore the role organisations play in promoting diversity and inclusion in their workforces so that everyone can achieve their potential, or as Jenine says, bring their 'awesomeness' to work.

For references, transcript or to learn more, visit the website: https://www.mercer.com/en-au/insights/talent-and-transformation/podcast-making-work-work/

In this captivating episode, our host Cynthia Cottrell asks Ilya Bonic, the President of Mercer's Workforce Solutions business and Head of Mercer Strategy globally, a thought-provoking question: "Do you think AI will ever replace your job?" This question sets the stage for the conversation as they delve into the challenges and opportunities presented by AI, exploring its impact on the present and future of work. 

Their conversation covers:  

This is an insightful episode on the incredible potential that AI holds for our future. Tune in now and be part of the transformation. 

Step into Mercer’s world of work and discover the secrets behind creating a truly great place to work. In this captivating episode, our host Cynthia Cottrell, Partner and Workforce Solutions Leader, engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Gaye Morris, Chief People Officer at Mercer Pacific. They delve into the dynamic landscape of modern workplaces and explore the initiatives spearheaded by Gaye, resulting in Mercer's coveted nomination for the prestigious 2023 AFR BOSS Best Places to Work list.  

You will discover how Gaye and her team cultivated an exceptional culture of collaboration during the acquisition of BT Super Fund and gain insights into the transformative power of distributed leadership, learning and development, and the importance of creating a relatable organisation.  

The conversation also uncovers the essential pillars that visionary people leaders should prioritize in their quest to attract and retain top talent, even in the face of evolving labour markets and pressing concerns like artificial intelligence and employee burnout. 

Are you ready to unlock the secrets of what makes a remarkable workplace? Tune into a stimulating discussion that tackles the pivotal role of Chief Human Resources Officers (CHROs) in today's challenging times. 

One of the biggest challenges for organisations has always been how to monitor the skills they have and the skills they will need in the future. But as Cynthia Cottrell, Partner and Workforce Solutions Leader at Mercer Pacific, and Ravin Jesuthasan, Global Transformation Leader for Mercer, discuss in this episode, a new way of looking at work is emerging, one that takes a different approach at building capacity, unlocking potential and managing careers. They describe this new approach as a movement called “skills-powered” and explain that when skills (not jobs) become the currency of work, this not only helps organisations become more agile and resilient in the face of constant change and uncertainty, but helps secure futures – for workers and societies.

Tune in to listen to Mercer’s thought leaders discuss the evolution of work, how companies are using Talent Marketplaces to power their skills journeys, the role of AI and tools like ChatGPT in monitoring and matching supply and demand of skills, and advice for companies considering or starting their shift towards a skills-powered enterprise.

Learn more about this movement, listen to the podcast now: ⁠https://www.mercer.com.au/our-thinking/workforce/podcast-making-work-work.html

As businesses grapple with the challenge of ongoing labour and skills shortages, a growing number are adopting a skills-based approach to define the skills they will need in the future, flex their workforce, and purposely drive career development.

In this episode, our host Cynthia Cottrell, Partner and Workforce Solutions Leader at Mercer Pacific, speaks with Amy Baxendale, Global Capability & Workforce Readiness Director at Arcadis, about their journey towards becoming a Skills-Powered Organisation (SPO).

Their conversation covers: The business case for change and why now is the time for Arcadis to shift to a skills-based model, why Talent Marketplace technology is critical to enable the transition but culture change is at the heart of this human-centric transformation, HR’s role in this business-led change program, and how to get started with moving from jobs to skills.

Tune in to learn how an SPO talent model can help your business and hear practical steps to get started.

Visit the podcast page for the episode’s transcript, references and resources https://www.mercer.com.au/our-thinking/workforce/podcast-making-work-work.html

Whether you're in the boardroom or living room, inflation and the rising cost of living continue to dominate the conversations in 2023. Employees are worried about their finances and the prospect of limited pay increases. Executives are concerned with the impact of inflation on both their businesses and talent management decisions. Where does this leave workers and their employers?

In this episode, our host Cynthia Cottrell, Partner and Workforce Solutions Leader, Mercer Pacific, and guests Chi Tran, Head of Market Insights and Data, Mercer Workforce Solutions Pacific, and Andrew McKechnie, Head of Mercer Workforce Solutions NZ, talk about how organisations can respond to the crisis by centring their value proposition and business model on the needs of their workforce. They also cover key trends from Mercer’s latest salary and benefits surveys, the role of purpose, culture and the EVP, and practical steps that organisations can take today to navigate the current environment and promote higher engagement and retention.

Visit the podcast page for the episode’s transcript, references and resources https://www.mercer.com.au/our-thinking/workforce/podcast-making-work-work.html

Is your graduate or early talent program delivering long-term value? In this episode, Laura Manescu, Senior Talent Strategy Consultant at Mercer Workforce Solutions, Fiona Herron, Senior Manager of Graduate Programs at Commonwealth Bank, and Phil Harrington, Leader of Mercer’s Talent Assessment Business, talk about trends and best practices that will help you bring talent in early and develop and nurture them through your organisation.

In this conversation, they talk about the challenges and opportunities for hybrid work in recruiting and developing early talent, the evolution of assessment practices, assessing for skills, aligning graduate programs with broader HR strategy, using the recruitment process to make strides in DEI, personalising the candidate experience, using data beyond the point of hire, getting candidates excited about your offer, and more.

Visit the podcast page for the episode’s transcript, references and resources https://www.mercer.com.au/our-thinking/workforce/podcast-making-work-work.html