Accenture launches People+ Work connect to help fired employees find jobs

• The unemployment rate in India stood at 23% in March, thanks to massive job cuts in view of the Coronavirus pandemic.
  
• As unemployment swells, Accenture, Lincoln Financial Group, ServiceNow and Verizon designed an AI platform — People+ Work Connect.
  
• It will provide an online employer-to-employer network to get the companies in touch with the employees who have been laid off.
  
• The platform, which will be free for employers to join and participate, will soon add public and private jobs.
  
• The platform already attracted companies like Walmart, Marriott and more — and another 250 companies are expected to onboard over the next week.

The unemployment rate in India stood at 23% in March, thanks to massive job cuts in view of the Coronavirus pandemic. As unemployment swells, Accenture, Lincoln Financial Group, ServiceNow and Verizon have designed an AI platform — People+ Work Connect.

The initiative, led by the chief human resource officers (CHROs) of the four companies, was launched to provide an online employer-to-employer network. It will help companies get in touch with the employees who have been laid off — and are in dire need of jobs.

The platform, which will be free for employers, will soon add public and private jobs and to trim the lengthy process of employment.

“By providing real-time visibility into which companies need people and where, People + Work Connect is designed to lessen the economic and societal impacts of the virus and help us work together to make a difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of people,” said Ellyn Shook, Accenture’s chief leadership and human resources officer.

The cross-industry business to business platform will help the companies share experience and skills of employees that have been fired.

“This crisis has created massive job loss and people need help finding work. By connecting companies that are hiring with a talented and available workforce, technology is truly acting in service of people. Working together, we can quickly make a meaningful impact on the people who need it most,” Pat Wadors, chief talent officer at ServiceNow said.

As a growing number of companies are doling out pink slips, the initiative developed in 14 days, already attracted companies like Walmart, Marriott, Blue Apron, Cargill, Zenefits and more.

In fact, as many as 250 companies are expected to onboard starting next week.

“A small group of CHROs came together because we share a passion for making sure that we—and the companies we represent—are remembered for addressing this tough moment with compassion and a sense of responsibility that transcends the business we do every day,” said Lisa M Buckingham, EVP at Lincoln Financial Group.

See also:
Over 136 million jobs are at risk due to Corona lockdown — Here are the worst-hit sectors

India’s looming jobs crisis is starting to unravel within the first 21 days of coronavirus lockdown

US extends H1-B visas and allows those who lose jobs to stay on 8 months