Mercer
Search


Consulting. Outsourcing. Investments.

Leading through unprecedented times

Last updated: 16 December 2008

 

M. Michele Burns

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

M. Michele Burns
In times of economic distress, it becomes even more critical for organizations to optimize their workforces, use the right engagement and development strategies with employees and make the best human capital investments. An effective, efficient, engaged workforce is your single greatest competitive advantage when trying to meet the enormous challenges posed by today’s economic circumstances.

 

These are unprecedented times. Times that will test the resolve and commitment of employers and employees worldwide. Times that will test the fundamentals of pension funds and retirement programs, and our notions of how we provide and care for an aging society. Times that will test whether or not organizations are equipped to deal with the profound, long-term changes in the world economic market.

 

Mercer stands ready to help organizations around the world face these serious challenges. Your local Mercer consultants are equipped to help you address your specific human capital needs and issues. We also encourage you to explore this site and take advantage of the wealth of ideas and resources available here – all designed to help you develop sound strategies for leading your company through these unprecedented times.

 

 

 

M. Michele Burns
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Mercer

 

 

Related resources

Access a wealth of Mercer resources that address the challenges of the current economic turmoil.

 

Learn more

New insights from Mercer experts

In our latest selection of podcasts below, Mercer experts share their insights and advice for dealing with some of the most urgent human capital, organizational and investment issues raised by the current financial crisis. Listen here or download the MP3s to your computer to listen to later.

Unprecedented times: The impact in Asia

Guo Xin
Worldwide partner
Human capital business leader, Asia Pacific
 E-mail

 

Play podcast (7:41)

 

 

podcast Download MP3 podcast

Unprecedented times: The impact in Australia

Peter Promnitz

Worldwide partner

Region leader, Australia
 E-mail

 

Play podcast (11:55)

 

 

podcast Download MP3 podcast

Unprecedented times: The impact in Canada (English)

Jacques Theoret
Worldwide partner
Region leader, Canada

 E-mail

 

Play podcast (11:45)

 

 

podcast Download MP3 podcast 

Unprecedented times: The impact in Canada (French)

Jacques Theoret
Worldwide partner
Region leader, Canada

 E-mail

 

Play podcast (13:40)

 

 

podcast Download MP3 podcast 

Unprecedented times: The impact in Europe

 

Simon O'Regan
Worldwide partner
Region leader, Europe

E-mail

 

Play podcast (8:15)

 

 

 

podcast Download MP3 podcast

View from the epicenter: Impact on the financial services industry 

Vicki Elliott
Worldwide partner
Executive remuneration consultant

 E-mail

 

Play podcast (7:45)

 

 

 

podcast Download MP3 podcast  

Helping plan participants weather times of market volatility
Eric Levy
Worldwide partner
Retirement business leader, outsourcing business

 E-mail

 

Play podcast (11:05)

 

 

podcast Download MP3 podcast

Review recent Unprecedented Times podcasts

 

 

Mercer interviewed ten experts in November on how these unprecedented times are affecting retirement, human capital, health & benefits, investment consulting, mergers & acquisitions and communication.

 

 More podcasts

 

 

 

 

 

Survey results now available

 

Get the summary of our recent “Leading through unprecedented times” SnapShot Survey. More than 1,000 respondents globally told us about the impact of the economic downturn on their organizations.

 

Download survey PDF

 

 

Related resources

 

Access a wealth of Mercer resources – including articles, white papers, podcasts, survey reports, web briefings and more – to help your organization fully understand and address these challenges of the current economic turmoil:

Access all the latest resources

 

Learn more about these issues:

 

Aligning investment strategies

Keeping employees engaged and informed

Managing DB plan risk

Managing the risks of health and benefits programs

Maximizing DC plan performance

Modifying compensation programs 

Optimizing HR operations

Re-examining talent strategies  

Restructuring your business 

  

  

 

Press releases

 

Read our press release on the results of our “Leading through unprecedented times” global SnapShot Survey and other press releases related to the global economic turmoil.

 

Review releases

 

Web briefing details

Leading through unprecedented times: Tough economic challenges for health & benefit programs

 

Wednesday, 17 December 2008

 

2 pm EST

 

  Timezone converter

 

Sign-up


 

Mercer on CNBC in Asia

 

Mercer's Su-Yen Wong talks with CNBC about the impact of shifting definitions of performance on pay-for-performance measurement in these unprecedented times.
 

View recording Watch interview (3:17)

 

Review investment consulting issues

Get detailed information specifically on the investment implications of these unprecedented times for employers

 

Learn more