# How can we mainstream “win-win” business models that work for lead firms and workers post Covid-19? **URL:** \ **Category:** Rebuild Better\ **Created:** [July 2, 2020, 9:09pm UTC](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/t/how-can-we-mainstream-win-win-business-models-that-work-for-lead-firms-and-workers-post-covid-19/2708 "2020-07-02T21:09:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Alison\_Ward](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/user_avatar/forum.businessfightspoverty.org/alison_ward/32/18143_2.png) [@Alison\_Ward](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/u/Alison_Ward)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 1:38pm UTC](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/t/how-can-we-mainstream-win-win-business-models-that-work-for-lead-firms-and-workers-post-covid-19/2708/121 "2020-07-14T13:38:31Z")
Yes absolutely, in additional to working with farmers we also support companies to improve communication with the ginners and spinners and we host regular supply chain meetings where all have a voice. We’ve also started a programme in cotton gins which are often an ‘unseen’ step in the cotton supply chain and through our health and safety programme we have not only been able to improve safety measures but also discuss worker rights. These are small steps - and there is more to do! ---
**Author:** ![Shinergise](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/user_avatar/forum.businessfightspoverty.org/shinergise/32/24511_2.png) [@Shinergise](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/u/Shinergise)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 1:39pm UTC](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/t/how-can-we-mainstream-win-win-business-models-that-work-for-lead-firms-and-workers-post-covid-19/2708/122 "2020-07-14T13:39:19Z")
Hi I’m Hamish Taylor, an independent consultant working with German flavor company Symrise. One model which we are just driving forward on, is our SDG Compact together with GIZ with match-funding by BMZ. We have launched three projects within this year - Madagascar vanilla together with Unilever, Kellogg’s and Save the Children; India Mint together with MARS and Tanager; Philippines Coconut together with Pernod Ricard / The Absolut Company and the Franklin Baker company. In all instances our projects are driven by a combination of qualitative (against the Goals per se) and quantitative (against the specific Targets & Indicators) reporting against the SDG’s. Each project is driven by a holistic approach to direct farmer empowerment - in all cases farmers have freedom to choose to whom they sell but they and their families are supported by the comprehensive work programmes. The Win-Win comes through security of supply, improving quality levels and an ability to mitigate climate change effects (including deforestation and water management) so as to ensure long term sustainability of the farms and attract/retain the next generation of farmers. This puts money in farmers’ pockets and protects them from negative economic shocks that could tip them further into poverty. ---
**Author:** ![KevinBilling](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KevinBilling](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/u/KevinBilling)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 1:40pm UTC](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/t/how-can-we-mainstream-win-win-business-models-that-work-for-lead-firms-and-workers-post-covid-19/2708/123 "2020-07-14T13:40:02Z")
Amalia and Alison. We were discussing this in our breakout group. In export Horticulture in Kenya the beneficaries of massive donor investment over last decade (farmers training, subsidised certification etc) were the commercial exporters and during this CV-19 crisis they have just deserted the farmers. This needs to be adressed and pressure from the UK consumers via the Supermarkets needs to be applied. ---
**Author:** ![MarkHauser](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/user_avatar/forum.businessfightspoverty.org/markhauser/32/24479_2.png) [@MarkHauser](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/u/MarkHauser)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 1:40pm UTC](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/t/how-can-we-mainstream-win-win-business-models-that-work-for-lead-firms-and-workers-post-covid-19/2708/124 "2020-07-14T13:40:11Z")
I agree, although there are some companies which seem to be moving in the right direction. The biggest challenge I’m seeing on this front is the fact that most of these large companies are needing to address a multitude of erroneous behaviours, and are first and foremost looking to establish either environmental or “purpose” agendas first which are ultimately more visible and perhaps more salient. Do you see similar? ---
**Author:** ![Alison\_Ward](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/user_avatar/forum.businessfightspoverty.org/alison_ward/32/18143_2.png) [@Alison\_Ward](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/u/Alison_Ward)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 1:40pm UTC](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/t/how-can-we-mainstream-win-win-business-models-that-work-for-lead-firms-and-workers-post-covid-19/2708/125 "2020-07-14T13:40:42Z")
We have seen clothing brands investing into ‘more than cotton’. Providing farm groups with training on other crops, business skills and women’s economic empowerment. It’s great to see this progress but it is more difficult to ask business to act outside of their core operations. Our survey found that 68% of our Implementing Partners believe crop diversification is needed to build community resilience. ---
**Author:** ![Matt\_Ripley](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/user_avatar/forum.businessfightspoverty.org/matt_ripley/32/24498_2.png) [@Matt\_Ripley](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/u/Matt_Ripley)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 1:40pm UTC](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/t/how-can-we-mainstream-win-win-business-models-that-work-for-lead-firms-and-workers-post-covid-19/2708/126 "2020-07-14T13:40:51Z")
yes, this seems to relate to fundamental issues of power - does a business model for decent work require a system change? We find this FSG diagram useful - and worker voice is very much in the ‘relational change’ bucket [https://www.fsg.org/publications/water\_of\_systems\_change](https://www.fsg.org/publications/water_of_systems_change) ---
**Author:** ![EleanorPaton](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/user_avatar/forum.businessfightspoverty.org/eleanorpaton/32/24497_2.png) [@EleanorPaton](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/u/EleanorPaton)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 1:41pm UTC](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/t/how-can-we-mainstream-win-win-business-models-that-work-for-lead-firms-and-workers-post-covid-19/2708/127 "2020-07-14T13:41:06Z")
The [Business Refugee Action Network](https://www.rescue-uk.org/Business) (BRAN), founded by IRC, Virgin, Ben & Jerry’s, The B Team and the Tent Partnership for Refugees, commissioned a mapping exercise of business initiatives in Europe supporting livelihoods for refugees. This identified the following as barriers that lead firms face in promoting business models for decent work: **Skills development** - Most skills development initiatives currently focus on early integration and employment (e.g. internships and placements) rather than focusing on higher level skills **Qualification equivalence** - recognising and translating qualifications from a refugee’s home country into the host country’s employment context. **Job matching and cooperation with external actors** - Unfamiliarity with local job markets is a key challenge for refugees seeking employment. Similarly, businesses that are interested in hiring refugees may not know how to reach refugees to encourage applications. **Regulatory environment and formal access to the labour marke** t –\*\* refugees experience significant barriers to labour market access. Even where eligible for formal employment, in practice, access is constrained e.g. by complex administrative processes. COVID-19 has exacerbated the challenges refugees face in accessing decent work. [New analysis](https://www.rescue-uk.org/press-release/refugees-are-60-more-likely-be-financially-impacted-covid-19-new-research-finds)shows that within refugee-hosting countries, refugees are 60 percent more likely to work in sectors of the economy impacted most by COVID-19, relative to 37 percent of host populations. ---
**Author:** ![KatieH](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/user_avatar/forum.businessfightspoverty.org/katieh/32/24852_2.png) [@KatieH](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/u/KatieH)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 1:41pm UTC](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/t/how-can-we-mainstream-win-win-business-models-that-work-for-lead-firms-and-workers-post-covid-19/2708/128 "2020-07-14T13:41:45Z")
**Our third question today:** **Q3. How can we overcome these challenges and mainstream business models for decent work? What are the key leverage points within lead companies and in the policy environment to enable business models for decent work to scale?** ---
**Author:** ![richard](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/user_avatar/forum.businessfightspoverty.org/richard/32/34_2.png) [@richard](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/u/richard)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 1:42pm UTC](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/t/how-can-we-mainstream-win-win-business-models-that-work-for-lead-firms-and-workers-post-covid-19/2708/129 "2020-07-14T13:42:14Z")
Three areas of action stand out for me so far: First, we need a mindset shift that sees companies moving away from compliance-based approaches to integrating decent work principles into business strategy – rather than tinkering around at the edges through CSR initiatives. ---
**Author:** ![AlessandraGiacomello](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/user_avatar/forum.businessfightspoverty.org/alessandragiacomello/32/24508_2.png) [@AlessandraGiacomello](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/u/AlessandraGiacomello)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 1:42pm UTC](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/t/how-can-we-mainstream-win-win-business-models-that-work-for-lead-firms-and-workers-post-covid-19/2708/130 "2020-07-14T13:42:26Z")
Hello, this is Alessandra Giacomello, recent graduate from the PostGraduate Programme in Sustainable Business from CISL, University of Cambridge. One example of “business model” that can positively impact labour relations and social dialogue may be perhaps that of B Corporations. Maybe not yet profiling as the “new normal” for the future, but indeed a growing phenomenon (I note with emphasis that _Business Fights Poverty_ is itself also a B Corp). The model proposed by “B Lab” establishes that the purpose of the company must be clearly included in the Articles of Association. Depending on the structure and the jurisdiction, this means in practice that if the purpose of the company is that of “_ **driving better job security, equality, health and well-being for workers** _” and if that is not attended, the Directors of the Organisation are legally liable for the breach, which is in its very essence a contractual breach. Very curious to know more opinions? ---
**Author:** ![Rebeca](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/user_avatar/forum.businessfightspoverty.org/rebeca/32/24505_2.png) [@Rebeca](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/u/Rebeca)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 1:42pm UTC](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/t/how-can-we-mainstream-win-win-business-models-that-work-for-lead-firms-and-workers-post-covid-19/2708/131 "2020-07-14T13:42:34Z")
**How can we leverage lead firms leading sustainable models to make them industry champions and role models for other firms to follow?** So far this strategy has had limited impact. For competitive reasons, most companies are reluctant to share specificities of their tacit and local knowledge accumulated, so samples often end up focusing on pure marketing strategies which cannot enable other companies to follow. Thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![richard](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/user_avatar/forum.businessfightspoverty.org/richard/32/34_2.png) [@richard](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/u/richard)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 1:43pm UTC](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/t/how-can-we-mainstream-win-win-business-models-that-work-for-lead-firms-and-workers-post-covid-19/2708/132 "2020-07-14T13:43:08Z")
Second, we need to see lead companies doing more to support and incentivise key suppliers to implement decent work practices, for example by committing to longer-term contracts and sharing commercial risks more equitably. ---
**Author:** ![SMilesEL](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@SMilesEL](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/u/SMilesEL)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 1:43pm UTC](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/t/how-can-we-mainstream-win-win-business-models-that-work-for-lead-firms-and-workers-post-covid-19/2708/133 "2020-07-14T13:43:28Z")
Absolutely. It is what we ([www.emerging-leaders.net](http://www.emerging-leaders.net)) have found consistently within agriculture & textile supply chains. Leadership which calls out the best in workers multiplies the impact across the business. Trying to get businesses to see the value in this though … is harder! Changing the mindset from squeezing some more out to unlocking the capacity within is essential & rewarding in so many ways beyond productivity & profit ---
**Author:** ![richard](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/user_avatar/forum.businessfightspoverty.org/richard/32/34_2.png) [@richard](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/u/richard)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 1:43pm UTC](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/t/how-can-we-mainstream-win-win-business-models-that-work-for-lead-firms-and-workers-post-covid-19/2708/134 "2020-07-14T13:43:36Z")
Third, it’s clear we need to see more action on decent work at an industry and sector level to ensure improving worker job security, equality and health becomes a collective effort and a level playing field is created for all companies. We are seeing some great initiative emerge – for example, the ACT initiative in textiles, the Malawi Tea Partnership and the HERProject. We need to see many more examples of pre-competitive collaboration and companies moving from individual company approaches to more collaborative action to tackle more entrenched systemic challenges. ---
**Author:** ![daniel.h.alves](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@daniel.h.alves](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/u/daniel.h.alves)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 1:43pm UTC](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/t/how-can-we-mainstream-win-win-business-models-that-work-for-lead-firms-and-workers-post-covid-19/2708/135 "2020-07-14T13:43:40Z")
Remember to join our World Cafe today at 3:15pm BST to discuss with us new economic models! [https://businessfightspoverty.org/articles/business-fights-poverty-online-2020-schedule/](https://businessfightspoverty.org/articles/business-fights-poverty-online-2020-schedule/) ---
**Author:** ![AmaliaJohnsson](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/user_avatar/forum.businessfightspoverty.org/amaliajohnsson/32/24482_2.png) [@AmaliaJohnsson](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/u/AmaliaJohnsson)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 1:43pm UTC](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/t/how-can-we-mainstream-win-win-business-models-that-work-for-lead-firms-and-workers-post-covid-19/2708/136 "2020-07-14T13:43:52Z")
A3: I see 3 areas where there is sope to address and overcome challenges: As we know, the informal sector falls outside policy responses (funding for the financial sector, reductions in payroll taxes, etc.). That leaves larger lead firms, with their market size, in a unique position to lobby for broader support for the agricultural sector, identify loopholes and highlight best practice in fixing them, and to make sure the informal doesn’t get left behind. ---
**Author:** ![Flynn\_Lebus](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/user_avatar/forum.businessfightspoverty.org/flynn_lebus/32/24503_2.png) [@Flynn\_Lebus](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/u/Flynn_Lebus)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 1:43pm UTC](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/t/how-can-we-mainstream-win-win-business-models-that-work-for-lead-firms-and-workers-post-covid-19/2708/137 "2020-07-14T13:43:53Z")
A3: A couple of considerations: | - | Structure of finance/investors: (1) Investors taking risks/backing unconventional business models without performance benchmarks. Leveraging flexible / catalytic capital (e.g., community development financing institutes (CDFIs)) and (2) Supporting and enabling Equitable Employee Ownership models | | --- | --- | | - | Taking another look at how to create a supportive and valued paid and unpaid care economy (paid and unpaid): As COVID-19 has shown whether you are working remotely or a key worker, you cannot work effectively without support for caring for young and old relatives. Where are there opportunities for companies to work together to provide care support services closer to work? How can we encourage male & female staff to shoulder domestic responsibilities? | | - | Leveraging the alternative demands of people’s time as an advantage/key design feature of a business model (e.g., rather than viewing the burdens of unpaid care on employees as an opportunity to provide competitive advantage through flexible models) and/or consider the four-day working week: How can we distribute the work available to more people and help spread the burden of care (unpaid) more equally across society? | ---
**Author:** ![AmaliaJohnsson](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/user_avatar/forum.businessfightspoverty.org/amaliajohnsson/32/24482_2.png) [@AmaliaJohnsson](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/u/AmaliaJohnsson)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 1:44pm UTC](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/t/how-can-we-mainstream-win-win-business-models-that-work-for-lead-firms-and-workers-post-covid-19/2708/138 "2020-07-14T13:44:27Z")
As we build back “better” lead firms should also review their approach to supply chains, modelling effective solutions as they go. What vulnerabilities are there? How can sustainability be given equal weight to efficiency to ensure there is resilience to future shocks like coronavirus or – just as likely – climate change? Decent work is about more than income and working conditions, after all: it is about security. ---
**Author:** ![EleanorPaton](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/user_avatar/forum.businessfightspoverty.org/eleanorpaton/32/24497_2.png) [@EleanorPaton](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/u/EleanorPaton)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 1:45pm UTC](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/t/how-can-we-mainstream-win-win-business-models-that-work-for-lead-firms-and-workers-post-covid-19/2708/139 "2020-07-14T13:45:08Z")
_The following solutions should be leveraged to advance refugees’ access to decent work:_ **Skills development** - Additional investments in supporting refugees to move to higher skilled jobs are needed. For example, IRC has partnered with the Intel Foundation in Germany to upskill over 1,000 refugees to prepare them for tech jobs.Please see this briefing for further information: [https://www.rescue-uk.org/sites/default/files/document/2136/privatesectorbrief091219.pdf](https://www.rescue-uk.org/sites/default/files/document/2136/privatesectorbrief091219.pdf) **Qualification equivalence** – it is important to simplify procedures and requirements for qualification recognition as well as build out solutions such as those provided by [BQ Portal](https://www.bq-portal.de/en). This platform provides information regarding the assessment of refugee qualifications from a number of countries of origin and defines German equivalents. **Job matching and cooperation with external actors** – Offering ‘bundled’ services — employment services such as job matching and referrals, vocational training, and entrepreneurship support combined with services like language training, childcare, soft-skill development and support in accessing professional networks. Citi and the IRC’s [Rescuing Futures Project](https://www.rescue-uk.org/Citi#:~:text=Through%20the%20Rescuing%20Futures%20programme,and%20the%20community%20at%20large.) provides business and development training and mentoring to 990 young refugees and vulnerable local youth in Athens, Greece; Amman, Jordan; and Yola, Nigeria. **Regulatory environment and formal access to the labour market -** Collective business voice can have a real impact in advocating for refugees’ economic inclusion and this will be crucial to building back better after COVID-19. For example, the Business Refugee Action [Statement](https://www.rescue-uk.org/sites/default/files/document/2050/statementpostersnovember.pdf) set out the role of business in expanding economic opportunities for refugees and made recommendations to government on accelerating progress for refugee populations in 2019. The network is now updating its Statement for COVID-19. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Sam\_Lacey](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/user_avatar/forum.businessfightspoverty.org/dr_sam_lacey/32/21552_2.png) [@Dr\_Sam\_Lacey](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/u/Dr_Sam_Lacey)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 1:45pm UTC](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/t/how-can-we-mainstream-win-win-business-models-that-work-for-lead-firms-and-workers-post-covid-19/2708/140 "2020-07-14T13:45:36Z")
A3: Short answer from an ethical investor (or sourcing company) perspective: 1. **Enshrine requirements** in due diligence processes and legal agreements to ensure requirements are clear from the beginning. 2. Work to **convince senior management** that workers interests are aligned with business interests by building the business case. 3. Support companies to **engage in dialogue with workers** and to address some of the issues they raise to build trust and reduce worker turnover. Once turnover reduces, management may be more willing to invest in skilling opportunities and to open up progression routes based on performance. This leads to a virtuous cycle of increasing levels of motivation, productivity and skill within the workforce, that enables a business to grow and retain the skills it needs to be resilient and adapt to shocks and market opportunities. [Previous page](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/t/how-can-we-mainstream-win-win-business-models-that-work-for-lead-firms-and-workers-post-covid-19/2708.md?page=6) [Next page](https://forum.businessfightspoverty.org/t/how-can-we-mainstream-win-win-business-models-that-work-for-lead-firms-and-workers-post-covid-19/2708.md?page=8)