Returning to work, safely

As a global organisation, we strive to have a positive impact on society, well beyond the boundaries of our day-to-day work. What we do is only good for us if it is also good for our stakeholders, the economy and society at large. We will continue to use our voice and influence to shape a post-pandemic world and to improve labour market integration and employability for groups at risk of exclusion, and help to ensure the wellbeing and resilience of workers everywhere.

We formed an HR services industry alliance, together with the wider industry – as the world’s largest private sector employer and labor market expert –to make a vital contribution to preparing for the new normal and getting people safely back to work and businesses and economies running again. The Alliance has analysed 400 health and safety best practices in 5 sectors across 13 countries to create a set of detailed recommendations for operating in the temporary ‘physical distancing economy’. To provide the greatest measure of certainty to workers and businesses, it is critical these practices be shared across industries and countries, and that new channels be created to scale effective protocols at speed.

We are inviting employers, trade unions, and NGOs to collaborate with us. At the same time, we are reaching out to governments to support, stimulate and endorse these efforts. We urge other stakeholders to join forces to enable companies and workers to return to work in a way that is both safe and productive, ensuring security for all.

In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the most vulnerable populations suffer most. The Adecco Group Foundation focuses on supporting underserved populations to prepare for and access the world of work. At this crucial time, we have refocused our two key partnerships toward COVID-19 support.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Plan International has created a Global Response Fund. This fund will focus on protecting the most vulnerable communities particularly in refugee camps and displaced settings. In particular, it will work to combat the rise in domestic violence against children and lack of access to education and services as a result of quarantine measures. The Adecco Group Foundation has allocated 300,000 CHF to this crisis response fund.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), is working to protect the millions of people living in conflict zones around the world, for whom COVID-19 is even more threatening due to poor health systems and fragile infrastructure. The Adecco Group Foundation collaborates with the ICRC’s Physical Rehabilitation Programme (PRP) to help people with disabilities to prepare for and access the labour market. Through our partnership, the Adecco Group Foundation will dedicate 100,000 CHF to the ICRC global COVID-19 appeal, and a further 150,000 CHF to the PRP to continue to support people with disabilities in vulnerable environments.