Amid all the unrest, employees turn to organisations for strength
In an exclusive conversation with People Matters, Bill Baker, CHRO of Wolters Kluwers shares insights on his journey to building a business that has the capability to weather any storm
BIG
I N TERVIEW
By Ramya Palisetty
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he world goes through upheavals in each generation but the last three years have been particularly tumultuous. The world of work has undergone a seismic transformation in the wake of the pandemic prompting a widespread reassessment of priorities. Amid geopolitical unrest, widespread layoffs, economic downturns, and the ongoing challenge of attracting and retaining top talent, businesses are confronting an unprecedented array of challenges. The call for workers to return to the office has added a new layer of complexity, forcing organisations to navigate unfamiliar terrain and adapt to the shifting norms of the postCOVID world. For Bill Baker, the HR chief of the Dutch information services company | March 2023
Wolters Kluwer, the focus has always been on building bridges to better connect and engage with employees, providing insights into the needs of a multigenerational workforce that seeks purpose and impact from their employer. With a legacy of over 186 years, the company has evolved from publishing to digital and software, building a resilient model with a compelling story to tell. Bill’s got a hold on the pulse of the multigenerational workforce, who he believes ‘don’t really want uniquely different things’ but are pursuing the
notion of why a certain company exists and the good it is doing in the world. With a firm belief in the philosophy that ‘If you don’t veer away from what’s fundamentally important and the principles you believe in, you can weather any storm,’ each of his answers reflect this state of mind. In this exclusive chat, find out what he thinks about the mass layoffs and tech companies reactionary approach to it, the changing perspectives of candidates towards what constitutes rewards, and more.
In the end, make sure that people understand what it is that your company does, why they exist, and how they can connect to it – that’s what is increasingly important to the workforce now