Perspectives on Workforce Directors: Opportunities & Challenges

By Virtual discussion on worker voice and workforce directors organized by The Predistribution Initiative and Railpen. Topics covered include the role of workforce directors, the potential benefits their appointment can bring, the current extent of workforce representation at the board-level in major markets, considerations for effective implementation, the policy environment, and the role of investors. Among a growing range of approaches to employee engagement that businesses might consider, one potentially under-utilised mechanism is the appointment of board directors drawn from and/or appointed by the workforce. It is a common feature of the corporate governance regimes in many European markets, but largely absent from UK and US companies. This could be a missed opportunity in many cases, with suitability of the solution depending on context.