Innovating Leadership:
Co-Creating Our Future

Hosted by Maureen Metcalf

Conversations with global thought leaders on leadership, culture, and innovation—designed for executives navigating complexity and building resilient organizations.

Looking at Labor Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow: the International Labor Organization

Episode Description

Labor markets are undergoing fundamental transformation as globalization, technological advancement, demographic shifts, and changing workforce expectations reshape how work is organized and valued. Drawing on the International Labour Organization’s global perspective, the discussion examines the evolution of labor standards, the growing importance of workforce equity, and the need to prepare for emerging forms of work. Leadership is framed as balancing economic performance with the creation of inclusive, resilient, and sustainable employment systems.

Key Takeaways

Labor market resilience depends on balancing the interests of workers, employers, and broader society.
Technological advancement creates both opportunity and disruption, requiring continual workforce adaptation.
Economic growth is most sustainable when accompanied by equitable access to quality work and opportunity.
Workforce inequality creates long-term organizational and societal risks that leaders cannot ignore.
Future competitiveness will increasingly depend on learning ecosystems that support ongoing skill development.

Why This Episode Matters

It highlights how workforce trends, technological change, and evolving labor expectations are reshaping the strategic decisions leaders must make about talent, productivity, and long-term organizational sustainability.

Listen to the episode

SUBSCRIBE:

Subscribe to Insights

Featuring

Kevin Cassidy & Christopher Washington

Episode Topics

AI Adoption • Culture to Performance • Leadership Behaviors • Leadership Capability & Maturity • Leadership Development • Organizational Transformation • Strategy Execution

Podcast Air Date

December 14, 2021

Episode Duration

53min

Watch the episode

Season 7

Episode Number 50

Episode Content:

Looking at Labor: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow – The International Labor Organization (ILO)

In this episode, host Maureen Metcalf speaks with Kevin Cassidy, the Director for the International Labor Organization (ILO) Office for the United States and Canada, and Christopher Washington, EVP and Provost, Franklin University. This episode delves into the evolution of labor, examining its past, present, and future and highlighting the critical role of the ILO in shaping labor standards and policies globally. This podcast is a must-listen for leaders and policymakers interested in understanding the dynamics of the labor market and the challenges and opportunities it presents.

The Historical Context of Labor

Kevin begins by providing a historical overview of labor, tracing its evolution from the Industrial Revolution to today. He discusses how labor movements have historically fought for workers’ rights, significantly improving working conditions, wages, and benefits. Established in 1919, the ILO has been at the forefront of these efforts, advocating for social justice and promoting decent work for all. Kevin emphasizes that understanding this historical context is crucial for appreciating the progress and challenges that remain.

The Current State of Labor

The conversation then shifts to the current state of labor, with Kevin highlighting the impact of globalization, technological advancements, and the COVID-19 pandemic on the labor market. He discusses how these factors have led to significant changes in work, with an increasing emphasis on remote work, gig economy jobs, and the need for digital skills. Kevin also addresses the issue of inequality, noting that while some workers have benefited from these changes, others, particularly those in low-wage and informal sectors, have been left behind. The ILO’s role in addressing these disparities and ensuring that all workers have access to decent work is a key focus of this discussion.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Labor

Looking to the future, Kevin shares his insights on the trends and challenges that will shape the labor market in the coming years. He discusses the importance of preparing for the future of work by investing in education and training, promoting lifelong learning, and ensuring that workers have the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Kevin also highlights the need for policies that promote inclusive growth and protect workers’ rights in the face of technological disruption. The ILO’s Future of Work initiative aims to address these challenges and create a more equitable and sustainable labor market, a key part of this vision.

The Role of the ILO in Shaping Labor Policies

Throughout the podcast, Kevin underscores the critical role of the ILO in shaping labor policies and standards globally. He discusses the organization’s tripartite structure, which brings together governments, employers, and workers to develop and implement labor standards. This collaborative approach ensures that all stakeholders’ voices are heard and policies are designed to promote social justice and respectable work for all. Kevin also highlights some of the ILO’s key initiatives, such as the

Global Commission on the Future of Work and the Decent Work Agenda, which aim to address the challenges and opportunities of the modern labor market.

Conclusion

Kevin Cassidy’s expertise and thoughtful analysis make this episode a valuable resource for leaders and policymakers interested in understanding the dynamics of the labor market and the challenges and opportunities it presents. By understanding the past, addressing the present, and preparing for the future, we can create a more equitable and sustainable labor market that benefits all workers.

Resources:

Formed in the aftermath of World War I, the International Labour Organization has evolved along with the workforce as part of the League of Nations and the United Nations. The ILO studies the environment for workers from a tripartite perspective: from labor itself, from business, and from government. All three are necessary to create optimal conditions for workers – but for women, minorities, and citizens of developing nations, conditions are far from optimal.

Kevin Cassidy, Director for the ILO Office for the United States and Canada, has a uniquely comprehensive view on both the issues and solutions for labor today…as well as glimpses of how artificial intelligence and new tech will affect labor tomorrow. It’s not what you think; CEOs and CFOs, for example, are in the group most easily replaced by AI. Kevin and Franklin University Provost Christopher Washington join host Maureen Metcalf in this wide-ranging discussion of labor’s past, present, and future.

Guest(s):

Kevin Cassidy & Christopher Washington

Guest(s) Bio:

Kevin Cassidy is currently the Director and Representative to the Bretton Woods, Multilateral Organizations for the International Labour Organization (ILO) Office for the United States and Canada. In the past, Mr. Cassidy has served as Senior Communications and Economic and Social Affairs Officer in the ILO Office for the United Nations; and, as the ILO’s Chief Technical Adviser for its Global Campaign on Promoting Fundamental Rights at Work. During that time, he developed numerous communication initiatives in over 40 countries such as interactive radio and television programmes as well as training journalists on communicating locally on decent work, child labour, forced labour, discrimination and the freedom of association. He has also worked in several UN offices including the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance, the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (Boutros Boutros-Ghali and Ban Ki-moon), the UN Department of Public Information and the UN Non-Governmental Liaison Service.

Dr. Christopher Washington is a tireless supporter of global leadership development, designer of accessible, inclusive and relevant education, and champion for the role of universities in workforce development. He serves as the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs for Franklin University, a private, nonprofit institution of higher education. Dr. Washington takes an active role in his local community by serving on the Board of the International Visitors Council and on the U.S. Global Leadership Coalitions Ohio Advisory Council. He currently is a member of the Forbes Nonprofit Council and is the immediate past Chair of the Board of Directors of the Washington D.C.-based Global Ties U.S.

Transcript