On October 26, 2022, China General Chamber of Commerce-USA and Bank of China U.S.A. co-hosted the 2022 Asian HR Forum in Midtown, Manhattan. The event gathered over eighty guests for an afternoon of engaging discussions and presentations on the latest developments and trends within human resources and labor law.
Wei Hu, Chairman of CGCC and President & CEO of Bank of China U.S.A. opened the program, welcoming CGCC members and guests representing a broad spectrum of industries. In his opening remarks, he explained that as companies gradually implement a return to office strategy, more and more employers are realizing the need to create an attractive company culture in order to recruit and retain talent.
Alan Wong, Managing Director & Head of the Human Resources Department at Bank of China followed Mr. Hu’s remarks where he acknowledged the many changes occurring internally in HR and some of the solutions BOC has adopted to address employee turnover.
Presentations throughout the forum were led by sponsors Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP (BAL), Littler Mendelson, P.C., and Mercer Health & Benefits, LLC.
A common theme discussed throughout the event was the need to support employees as work-life balances shift in response to Covid-19 and the understanding that employees need support both in and out of the workplace. Ameriprise, a financial company, shared the importance of finding solutions to bring together employers and employees. BAL, an immigration law firm, discussed the challenges for employers in immigration practices during COVID and how to best support immigrant employees.
Littler provided an update on workplace environments across the U.S., China, and Japan. The conversation highlighted mental health, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), hybrid schedules, and more. Mercer, a company devoted to enhancing employee experiences, followed with detailed statistics into the various strategies employers can utilize in order to meet the needs of their employees.
The forum concluded with a panel discussion led by Philip Berkowitz, CGCC Legal Counsel Committee Member, and Littler Shareholder, and featured speakers from Ameriprise, BOCUSA, BAL, Littler, Mercer, and Oliver Wyman. The panel members shared their unique insights on issues like workplace culture, the Great Resignation, remote workforces, and more. Guests and panelists later networked over lunch and continued the discussion regarding these complex issues and trends in the marketplace.
CGCC sincerely thanks Bank of China U.S.A. for helping to host a successful forum and event sponsors Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP (BAL), Littler Mendelson, P.C., and Mercer Health & Benefits, LLC.
Click HERE to view photos from the event