Workforce redesign is in a state of flux.
We're caught up in buzzwords like "employee experience." Meanwhile, the way work gets done is evolving fast. Organizations focus on capabilities. But the pressure for results has never been higher.
AI is shifting the landscape. Who does the work. And how.
In this episode, Reejig CEO Siobhan Savage speaks with Jason Averbook. Jason is a Senior Partner at Mercer and a leader in enterprise AI infrastructure. With decades of experience, Jason reveals why businesses still stumble over outdated strategies. And what they must do to integrate AI, redesign workflows, and build a future-ready workforce.
Every enterprise is deploying AI. Almost none can see the work they're deploying it into.
Too often, change is treated as something to manage. Or delay. Or delegate. But the world is shifting systemically. Across work, government, education, and society. Standing still is the real risk.
"Change is not the enemy. Change is the strategy."
Organizations need to get off the barge and onto the jet ski. That means mindset shifts first. Systems second.
Takeaway: Stop fearing change. Start building for it.
Job codes, FTEs, and salary bands still dominate workforce planning. But they don't reflect how work actually happens.
"Jobs don't matter. Tasks matter."
The real opportunity lies in understanding the building blocks of work. Then we redesign roles and reassign work. We reimagine what people and AI do together.
From Job Architecture to Work Architecture.
Takeaway: Map your work at the task level. That's where redesign starts.
Without the right data, workforce decisions are guesswork. Most organizations still operate in the dark.
"Every organization in the world is laying people off. And they're not the right people. Every organization is hiring people. And they're not the right people."
It's not about headcount. It's about capability. Without a clear view of work being done, strategy breaks.
Takeaway: Make people decisions based on evidence. Not legacy org charts.
Generative AI isn't magic. It runs on data. Most companies don't have the foundations in place.
"You can't build an AI-first strategy on blank spreadsheets."
Whether it's Microsoft Copilot or internal AI models, outcomes depend on the data underneath. Garbage in, garbage out.
AI capability is compounding. Work visibility is not.
Takeaway: Good AI starts with clean, contextual, and connected data.
Digital redesign has nothing to do with software. It's about shifting how people think, work, and design for the future.
"Digital doesn't equal technology. It's a mindset."
The organizations that win won't just implement AI. They'll embody it. They'll shape how humans and agents team up. Not just coexist.
Takeaway: Don't adopt AI. Live it. Start with purpose, not platform.
The CHRO of the future won't be a compliance manager. They won't be a policy gatekeeper. They'll be a Chief Work Designer. Breaking down silos. Rethinking roles. Orchestrating human and AI capability at scale.
"If your company isn't jumping on AI yet, cool. But then don't hire AI people. You're wasting time."
Whether you're a bold early adopter or still getting your data house in order, the message is clear. This isn't about five-year plans. It's about five-day momentum. The world is changing. Now's the time to choose how you lead.