Leading through unprecedented times



CHALLENGE: Companies today find themselves walking a fine line. They need to manage costs aggressively, but they also need to take actions now that will ensure superior levels of performance as business conditions improve. KEY QUESTION: How do we manage the workforce and its related financial costs in ways that enhance effectiveness and efficiency without compromising prospects for future growth?

Thought leadership Pay for performance in a downturn: Putting the right tools and processes in place Web briefing recording: Difficult times, new challenges: Managing your defined contribution plan in today's changing economy Contain health care costs during the downturn - A Mercer Perspective Tough economic times: Rapid cost savings opportunities for employers (Large employers) Tough economic times: Rapid cost savings opportunities for employers (Small/medium employers) Keeping key people in tough times Unprecedented times interactive magazine		Events Web briefing: US: Redefining the deal while optimising people costs (28 July) Web briefing: US: Compensation Decision 2010 (15 September)		Mercer interactive Web briefing recording: Europe: Keeping employees engaged during times of change Web briefing recording: Global: Expatriate benefits & compensation: Maximising the return on your investment Podcast: Total rewards under pressure Podcast: To have and to hold: Keeping your top people in tough times Podcast: Changing times: The impact on employer-provided health benefits Podcast: Sculpt benefit programs to cut costs, retain talent Podcast: Balancing shareholder concerns in incentive pay design Web briefing recording: Health Reform outlook: Legislative update and a Mercer survey on recession and reform



CHALLENGE: Heightened market volatility and uncertainty has magnified concerns around existing financial, investment, legal, talent and reputational risks. But recent financial and economic events have also uncovered new “systemic” risks around appropriate governance and oversight. The riskier environment has already begun to have an impact on how companies operate. KEY QUESTION: What risks, both new and existing, pose the greatest potential harm to our company, and what can we do now to identify and protect against them?

Thought leadership Retirement plan member reactions: They’re concerned Flexible benefits - Can you afford not to offer them? Employer reactions: Challenges and opportunities Opportunity knocks? Europe: Executive remuneration reconsidered DC Connections - A collection of global perspectives Unprecedented times interactive magazine		Events Web briefing: Europe: The importance of governance in managing reward risk and cost (13 July) Web briefing: Canada: Storm watch: Canadian employers report on HR plans (22 July) Web briefing: Latin America: Business continuity planning: Have we learned the lesson (11 August)		Mercer interactive Web briefing recording: US: Value of total absence management in today’s environment Podcast: Strategic funding policies for pensions Podcast: Volatility affects pension funding status Podcast: Weathering the storm - Part II: Executive compensation reconsidered Podcast: Changing times: The impact on employer-provided health benefits Podcast: Helping plan participants weather times of market Web briefing recording: Leading in unprecedented times: Canadian pension funding and legislation: Who can spell relief?



CHALLENGE: The worldwide economic crisis has accelerated government action and amplified calls for further reform around a number of workforce issues. Pay equity practices, executive remuneration and employee health care are among the areas that are undergoing significant change in certain countries. Looking ahead, many economic and political observers foresee more direct government involvement in shaping the business decisions that affect a company’s workforce. KEY QUESTION: First, what are the best practices for complying with new workforce laws and regulations; second, what should we do now to anticipate and then lessen the impact of any future rules that arise from changing social and political views?

Thought leadership Ledbetter Fair Pay Act raises pay equity stakes for employers Leading through unprecedented times - US Health Reform Perspective - The uninsured employee: A key issue for health reform Global Health & Benefits Perspective - US health care reform Retirement Perspective - Government reactions: Changing the rules Mercer launches new book: Pay for results: Aligning executive compensation with business performance Unprecedented times interactive magazine		Events Web briefing: US health reform series: Cost modeling (16 July) Web briefing: US health reform series: Outsourcing (20 August) Web briefing: US health reform series: Reconciliation process (17 September)		Mercer interactive Web briefing recording: US health reform series: Business Roundtable Report Web briefing recording: UK personal Accounts: meeting the costs and preparing to comply Web briefing recording: Canadian pension funding and legislation: Who can spell relief? Web briefing recording: Managing your compensation risks



CHALLENGE: The economic decline has compelled a growing number of companies to restructure their finances (increasingly via bankruptcy) to continue operating. The financial overhaul invariably involves corresponding business and workforce changes. At the same time, many financially sound companies are refocusing their business operations and workforces to limit the impact of revenue shortfalls. KEY QUESTION: What steps should we be taking throughout the restructuring process that immediately preserves the company’s enterprise value as well as sets the stage for high performance in the newly restructured organization?

Thought leadership Fast forward: Accelerating business change through effective communication Mastering pension and benefit issues beyond your borders Survey: Severance Pay in Major Markets around the World The HR stand-up challenge Web briefing recording: Organisational fitness: Sizing the workforce for business success Unprecedented times interactive magazine		Events Web briefing: Asia: HR Effectiveness - Is your HR function effective? Where do we start? (15 July) Web briefing: Latin America: Retention strategies in M&A transactions (web briefing in Spanish) (29 July) Web briefing: Lightening the load: Corporate divestitures (7 October)		Mercer interactive Web briefing recording: Europe: Keeping employees engaged during times of change Podcast: Fast forward: Leading transformational change in 'real time' Podcast: Heads up: Communication strategies for tough times Podcast: Doing deals in unprecedented times Web briefing recording: Organisational fitness: Sizing the workforce for business success Web briefing recording: Managing pensions risk: The financial implications for business