•  At the first session of the People Atelier Series on 13 April, 13 corporate members engaged with the European Commission and shared common challenges, priorities, and best practices for a business leadership that cares for and empowers employees. Next, CSR Europe members will engage on this topic European policymakers and their key stakeholders face-to-face, at the CSR Europe Conference on 20th June.

• Corporate members are also invited to register for the second Atelier session, taking place in person, in Brussels, on 19 September, from 14:00-18:00 CET.

In today's evolving world of work, companies face significant challenges in ensuring employee engagement amidst the phenomena of quiet quitting and the great resignation. Navigating these trends requires businesses to adapt leadership and HR strategy, for a work environment that promotes satisfaction, growth, and meaningful connections with employees.

On 13th April, CSR Europe’s corporate members came together for the first session of the People Atelier series, exchanging evolving priorities, challenges, and best practices to translate sustainability leadership into inclusive workplaces. This exchange yielded three valuable insights, further enhanced by the contributions of Maria Iglesia, Acting Director at Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion at the European Commission, and Tom Verboven, Managing Director of PwC Belgium.

1. Strengthening the Social Dialogue in Europe is a vital priority

   Multi-stakeholder alliances and the adoption of human-centred social policies are essential in this historical moment shaped by cultural transformations, crises, and new way of working.

   In this direction are going the newest initiatives of the European Commission: The work-life balance; The right to disconnect; A legislative proposal to protect workers from the risk related to asbestos exposure at work; Support to the social partners agreements.

   “For a successful green and digital transition, we need to invest massively in our human capital. This is why we invite companies like yours to contribute to this goal, to plan activities and strategies to contribute to the European Year of Skills” said Acting Director Iglesia.

2. There is a widening expectation gap between business leaders and employees

   The macroeconomic realities that today’s businesses operate in are continuously changing, creating uncertainty in an already turbulent economy. This coupled with organisational and talent challenges have all created an uncertain business environment. According to surveys of PwC Belgium, the significant disconnection between leaders’ and employees’ working preferences and expectations have a negative impact on an organisation’s ability to retain and attract top talent.

3. Businesses are shifting the value proposition to encompass “Total Wellness”

A new Employee Value Proposition that encompasses emotional, mental, social, career, financial, and physical is needed to ensure that companies not only get a return on reward investment but also collect the right information to deliver tailored value for their people. Out of all the different areas, companies found the emotional and the mental aspect the most challenging to address as they embrace respectively a culture of care & mindfulness and employee recognition & feedback, and work-life balance and the creation of a safe work environment that is challenging to implement.

NEXT STEPS:

On 20th June, at the CSR Europe Conference, members will engage with +150 c-level representatives from business, European institutions, and their key stakeholders to address the impact of the Twin – Green and Digital - transition on the workplace.

On 19th September, corporate members will come together for the second session of the People Atelier Series on “Fostering a Culture of Belonging in the Workplace”. The event will take place in person, in Brussels, from 14:00-18:00 CET (REGISTER).

For more information:

Contact Irene Paoletti,

CSR Europe Project Manager

UPCOMING EVENTS