The world's first conference from Project Monday

How can Norway simultaneously have a shortage of labor and hundreds of thousands of people out of work?

This was the core of the conference The Workforce Paradox, where stakeholders from business, NAV (the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration) and the work inclusion industry gathered to discuss one of the biggest dilemmas of our time.

This is an initiative we at Compass Group Norway are behind through Project Monday, and as an important part of our work with work inclusion. Arbeidslivsparadokset , where actors from business, NAV and the work inclusion industry gathered to discuss one of the biggest dilemmas of our time.

Foto: Silje Reistad

A clear need for action

The message was clear. Today, around 700,000 people of working age are without a job or education, while businesses across the country are short of staff. This is not only a social problem, it is also a lost opportunity.

Throughout the day, facts, experiences and concrete solutions were highlighted. The common denominator was simple. More people must be given the opportunity to contribute

After the conference, the CEO of Project Monday, Monica Vogt, was very inspired and satisfied.

This turned out even better than I had imagined.

Monica Vogt, CEO of Project Monday

How did you find the day?
- It was very good. Inspiring, and not least an incredible number of good meetings across industries.

What do you remember in particular?
- That it was actually even better than I had imagined. The most important thing was to bring together people from different sectors, business, NAV and social entrepreneurs, and show what happens when we meet. The need is so clear now.

What made the biggest impression?
- That inclusion is not just about giving people a chance, but also about how companies can use their purchasing power to contribute. When customers and employees see that, something happens. People want to do something good for others.

What does this mean for the working environment?
- I think it makes us a little nicer to each other. When we take everyone seriously, it affects the whole culture.

Where next for Project Monday?
- I have even more faith in it now. We're here to create change, and we're going to make it happen.

Foto: Silje Reistad

An initiative for change

Project Monday is an initiative from Compass Group Norway, headed by chairman Tor Rønhovde. The goal is to bring the business community together to get more people into work through collaboration, sharing of experiences and concrete measures

For us at Compass, this is not just about words, but about action. We take an active role in bringing together stakeholders, building networks and promoting solutions that give more people a real opportunity in working life.

Foto: Silje Reistad

The conference reminded us of something important. An inclusive working life is not only the right thing to do, it's necessary.

The working life of the future will not be about how many people we have, but how many people we manage to include.

What is Project Monday?

An initiative that brings together the business community to get more people into work. The initiative stems from Compass Group Norway's commitment, spearheaded by CEO Tor Rønhovde, and works actively to bring together stakeholders, share experiences and highlight solutions that work.

This is a concrete example of how we take responsibility and contribute to a more inclusive working life.