Dive Brief:
- The Wing, a professional network for women, will offer current and former employees access to Bravely, an on-demand professional coaching service, the companies announced May 7.
- Employees can use Bravely's career-growth services, including coaching from HR professionals and others certified by the International Coaching Foundation. Coaches will assist workers in boosting job performance, communication, goal-setting and stress management, the companies said.
- The Wing will also extend Bravely's "alternative outplacement program to recently separated employees," who will have access to coaches for emotional support and professional guidance, a statement said.
Dive Insight:
The pandemic has brought major shifts to the economy, including mass layoffs, but some companies have sought the formation of partnerships that benefit workers, especially those who have lost their jobs. Guild Education and a group of U.S. employers, for example, launched an initiative that helps laid-off workers gain new skills and find pathways into higher-paying jobs. And a set of CHROs created a free platform where employers laying off or furloughing workers can connect with those in urgent need of talent.
More broadly, the services The Wing is offering current and former employees are part of a trend already popular in the learning and development space. Coaching was forecasted to play a "much bigger role in talent development programs in the near future" by the Human Capital Institute and International Coach Federation at the beginning of 2020.
It seems to have taken off as a tool for women's professional development and inclusion. Anheuser-Busch InBev recently partnered with BetterUp, for example, to pilot a women-focused leadership development program. Participants will receive one-on-one leadership coaching through BetterUp's platform.
Leaders without access to such partnerships may be able to launch their own coaching initiatives. L&D teams can create guidelines around the specifics of mentorships, including how much time participants can expect to invest, how both parties can prepare for meetings and how a mentor can help without overstepping boundaries, sources previously told HR Dive.
