World Economic Forum launches partnership for New Work Standards
Professional services firm Wipro is among the companies to have joined the World Economic Forum's Partnership for New Work Standards initiative. As companies across the world look to adapt to remote and hybrid working, the initiative hopes to help employers ensure employee wellbeing is at the forefront of changes to working life.
Founded by the World Economic Forum (WEF), the Partnership for New Work Standards is a global, cross-industry initiative for employers. It also has input from unions and independent experts, to leverage their individual and collective power towards building a healthy, resilient and equitable future of work.
Commenting on the launch of the network, Till Leopold, Head of Action Initiatives, Centre for the New Economy and Society at the World Economic Forum said, “As organisations transition from the Covid-19 crisis into the ‘new’ future of work, there is the opportunity for employers to collectively reset their approach to the future of work and put people first. Getting this right will help determine whether the post-pandemic recovery leads to positive outcomes for business and for society.”
Among the partners of the new network are a number of firms from across multiple industries. These include Zurich Insurance Group, Unilever, Tata Steel, Stanley Black & Decker, Standard Chartered Bank, Randstad North America, Koç Holding, Novo Nordisk, Schneider Electric, and professional services firm Wipro.
Saurabh Govil, President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Wipro, commented, “Companies around the world today are reinventing themselves so they can offer better employee flexibility, stability and security… As we join the World Economic Forum’s Partnership for New Work Standards initiative, we hope to contribute to global discussions and behavioral change around work.”
According to a release from Wipro, the firm has been working in recent months to develop new ways of working, while forging an “inclusive post-pandemic work environment” to help its staff transition to a hybridised future of work. The company is also undertaking initiatives to support and equip its people with dedicated programs for physical, social, financial and mental well-being.
The Partnership for New Work Standards is part of the WEF’s New Economy and Society Platform, in collaboration with Mercer. The platform aims to provide an integrated hub to support implementation where companies can champion best practices and collaborate on an ongoing basis for impact at scale.
