Accenture, Verizon Launch Job Seeking Initiative

Need to Know

• Accenture, Verizon, and other companies have teamed up to launch a job-finding service, matching out-of-work employees with companies facing increased demand.
• The two company’s chief human resource officers collaborated by donating their time to launch the passion project that gives back during an unprecedented time.
• Since the COVID-19 outbreak struck the world, over 16.8 million Americans are facing joblessness, with that number growing every day.

Analysis

Accenture and Verizon have teamed up to launch a job-finding service, supporting the millions of workers who now are out of a job due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The new program, called People + Work Connect, is an analytics-based platform powered by Accenture that connects those who have lost their jobs with companies that are now facing increased demand. The program is completely free to join and currently serves large companies with approximately 100 jobs to fill or 100 workers to place. 

Here’s how it works: Using a simple online form, eligible companies contact People + Work Connect to be matched with an enrollment coordinator. They will then provide information such as location and employee experience. From there, two companies will be matched with each other to move employees from one company to the other, either on a temporary or permanent basis. 

“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 program, launched in just 14 days from the idea to inception, includes participants such as Nordstrom, Frito-Lay, Marriott, and Walmart. It is expected that at least 250 more will join in the coming weeks. 

Lincoln Financial Group and ServiceNow also have a stake in the launch, with both company’s—as well as Verizon’s —chief human resources officers collaborating by donating their time to the initiative. 

“Life is filled with many moments that matter, including some that are tougher than others. People remember who shows up during those tough times to help them through,” said Lisa M. Buckingham, EVP and chief people, place and brand officer for Lincoln Financial Group. “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.”

In the past three weeks, 16.8 million people in the United States have sought unemployment aid due to the coronavirus outbreak. In Canada, approximately 5 million people have applied for unemployment aid due to the loss of a job or reduced work hours.