Transforming for the future
The Emergence of Unions in Retail: Trends and Opportunities
August 02, 2024 | 19 | 12:00
The Transforming for the future podcast series features Mercer’s consultants who are helping organizations stay ahead of the curve by embracing transformation, exploring new ways of working and reinventing their employee experience. We’ll discuss the most pressing issues facing leaders today and how to shape the future of work so that your business and people thrive.
In this episode, join David Kopsch, GRP, Retail and Consumer Goods Leader, and Heather Frank, a Principal in Mercer’s Workforce Transformation Practice, as they explore the dynamic world of employee relations in the retail industry. They highlight the drivers behind the rise of union support, working with an unionized workforce, and strategies for fostering strong employee relations.
Tune in to discover effective labor relations strategies for shaping the future of work in the retail industry.
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Interesting moments from the interview:
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Three key issues driving union support are: Notable increases in public and political support for labor unions, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighting the absence of labor power and exposing inequalities, re-evaluation of work-life balance and the need for unions to negotiate aspects like time off, workloads, and burnout measures.
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Potential benefits of having a unionized workforce include predictable labor costs and the potential for improved morale, safety, and productivity through a partnership with union representatives.
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Drawbacks of a unionized workforce include potential stifling of individual performance and behavior, difficulty addressing poor performance due to contractual constraints, and higher operating costs compared to non-unionized organizations.
