Throughout the pandemic, the disruptions to the world of work have given people time and space to really reflect on their personal and professional lives and how to draw the balance between both, making them more selective about roles and companies they choose to join.

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), which assesses the sustainability and societal impact of businesses, has gathered significant momentum in recent years. However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced many businesses into survival mode and in some cases sustainability efforts slipped down priority lists. As the world begins to recover from the global pandemic, businesses must again move substantiality back near the top of their agenda. 

2020 opened amidst concerns centring on a constricting global economy, trade enmity, and a general ‘slobalisation’ as countries worldwide turned towards more protectionist practices. However, the pandemic upset all predictions, bringing with it a new set of challenges for companies and their employees to face. But as 2021 begins, though uncertainty remains, according to the 2021 Asia Salary Guide report by leading recruitment experts Hays, there is an underlying hope for the year ahead.

Nearly four out of ten professionals have said their mental health and wellbeing has been impacted negatively during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a recent global survey by recruiting experts Hays.