An Aon study showed that there is a global shift in attitudes of leading organisations toward long-tail risks and the impact on how society will continue to work, travel and convene.
The report, titled ‘Helping organizations chart a course to the new better’, presents regional findings and trends on how organisations have responded to the novel coronavirus pandemic to date and are adapting to prepare for other emerging long-tail risks.
More than 130 organisations across multiple industries and four continents in 10 cities participated in coalition meetings, sharing best practices and outlining new priorities to accelerate economic recovery.
Beginning in Chicago in June 2020, Work, Travel and Convene Coalitions launched in Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, and Singapore as well as major urban centres Dublin, London, Madrid, New York, and Tokyo. The 10 coalitions formed across four continents to examine issues arising from the pandemic, share key learnings and insights and help develop best practices for moving forward.
The report is the result of months of ongoing dialogue with some of the world’s leading organisations.
“COVID-19 has fundamentally reordered the priorities of leading public and private organisations around the world,” said Aon CEO Greg Case. “Our decision to convene these coalitions was driven by a need to build a collaborative roadmap to make better decisions in an increasingly complex world. Rather than accept the so-called new normal, this work leads our clients to define the new better on their own terms.”
Along with the coalition dialogue, Aon performed a comprehensive quantitative diagnostic to address readiness, resilience and wellness as well as assess priorities as the pandemic evolved.
The key findings include:
- Nearly 89% of companies plan to enhance their well-being programme to focus on their workforce’s emotional and mental well-being as a result of the pandemic.
- More than 84% of companies said they have strengthened their communications protocol to better react and respond to vendors, governments and employees during the pandemic.
- More than 87 % of companies have deepened their partnership with key vendors to support the management process and coordination of a return to the workplace.
“Over the course of this six-month dialogue, coalition participants have reacted to shifting expectations around the duration and ultimate impact of the pandemic,” said Mr Case. “Even as we publish these findings, new restrictions and lockdowns are being issued against the backdrop of a global race to approve and distribute a wave of promising vaccines. These realities reinforce that, while there may be a long road ahead, there is in fact a path to a new better for countries, companies and communities around the world.” M