The Alares® Foundation launches the largest conference on quality of life and competitiveness

Verónica Sánchez
Equality, Work-Life Balance, Dependency and Diversity—and the strategic influence of these concepts on Business Competitiveness—will be debated in a few months, for the first time in Spain, at the congress planned by the Alares® Foundation for February 20 and 21 at the IFEMA Exhibition Centre in Madrid. It will be the first of the annual international forums promoted by this Foundation, for the exchange of experiences on the most sensitive current issues in developed societies. The Congress is aimed at both corporate chief executives and those responsible for public institutions, as well as professionals who may have some connection with the topics addressed. In fact, it is designed as a way to convey theoretical knowledge and practical experiences while also making contact with professionals from other countries who share common interests. The Congress has capacity for 1,200 attendees. In addition to Spain, participants will come from the United States, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Germany, the Czech Republic and Ireland, among others. The Congress covers the most important aspects shaping the new concepts of collective life that are transforming society at the beginning of this new twenty-first century, with particular emphasis on their impact on business productivity and competitiveness. With attendance from more than 20 countries and the participation of leading national and international speakers and lecturers, the latest theoretical trends, practical experiences and results obtained in different countries on the Congress topics will be addressed. It is a meeting point and reference for the business, civil and institutional sectors of society. The format in which the content of this 1st International Congress “Quality of Life and Business Competitiveness” will be addressed will combine more than 40 highly practical presentations, scheduled across the different fields covered, consisting of: Plenary sessions. Parallel conferences. Experiences of companies, countries and institutions. Working groups. Attendee Profile:
  • Leading companies based in Spain, represented by their shareholders, executives, managers and professionals, as well as companies based elsewhere that have interests in the Congress topics.
  • Local, regional, national and international public and private institutions.
  • Foreign embassies in our country.
  • Spanish and international universities and business schools.
  • Associations, business organizations, trade unions and foundations, both Spanish and international.
  • Individuals, independent professionals and researchers involved in or concerned about the Congress topic.
  • Media.
Exhibitor Profile:
  • Leading companies providing services to individuals and the private sector in general
  • Suppliers of products and services to public administrations and private companies
  • Local, regional, national or international public institutions
  • Financial institutions and insurance companies
  • Consultancies
  • Publishing companies
  • Real estate companies with interests in the Congress topics
  • NGOs and foundations
  • Research centers, universities and business schools
  • Etc.
Research and Debate TopicsThe speakers, Spanish experts and experts from different parts of the world, will present their research, policies, practical experiences and results, so that attendees, who will likewise come from different countries, leave with a clear, up-to-date global view of the topics discussed. The New Strategic Positioning:Experts in Strategic Positioning, international gurus, will explain how the main concepts studied and debated at this Congress—equality, work-family balance, dependency and diversity—influence the social and economic competitiveness of companies and countries. Advanced societies are increasingly sensitive to social and quality-of-life issues. Only organizations capable of responding to these new demands will be able to develop and achieve leadership in this new social environment. Work-Life Balance and Competitiveness: Policies, Experiences and Results This is not a passing fad. Work-life balance policies represent an opportunity to improve workers’ well-being and enhance companies’ competitiveness. Their success requires the involvement and responsibility of all parties involved in the employment relationship. This Congress aims to provide a space where senior management members, workers, social partners and public administration officials can analyze and present their reflections and experiences, with the aim of giving greater impetus to work-life balance measures and thereby improving the competitiveness of companies and the country. Diversity: A Source of Innovation and Knowledge Diversity has always been present in society. However, some companies are not fully aware of the benefits of having heterogeneous professional teams. Of course, it does not end at the hiring stage; ensuring success requires managing diversity effectively. Leading organizations that manage diversity appropriately are more innovative, sustainable and profitable because they enable and encourage the development of their professionals’ potential. This Congress will examine diversity as a competitive advantage for companies through experiences in this field, as well as future social challenges. Equal Opportunities: A Social Duty and a Source of Advantages Equal opportunities are a basic right of every person, regardless of their condition, race, sex, circumstances or the environment in which they carry out their activities. They also drive the dynamism of societies by optimizing resources and creating greater value and wealth for both business and society. This Congress will examine equal opportunities from both a legislative perspective and the perspective of socio-business realities. Technology and Quality of Life Society is constantly evolving. Individuals’ needs change at the same time, and technology is an essential element in meeting these new demands. The use of technology promotes personal development, facilitates integration into the surrounding environment and offers new personal and professional opportunities that would otherwise be unimaginable. However, many barriers limit accessibility and prevent these tools from being used universally. Corporate Social Responsibility A company is one of the most active organizations within the social fabric. As a beneficiary of the countless services that society provides, it cannot remain indifferent to the needs of its surroundings and must actively participate in improving social well-being. Based on practical experiences, experts at this Congress will reflect on the services companies receive from society that enhance their competitiveness, and on the contributions they must in turn make to establish a win-win relationship, ‘win-win’. Moreover, given consumers’ growing sensitivity to these issues, many companies see a strategic opportunity to differentiate themselves from and distance themselves from their competitors. Talent Retention Talent, broadly understood as professionals’ creativity, commitment and qualifications, is one of the greatest assets organizations possess and a scarce resource. Human resources are what truly differentiate one company from another. The scarcity of talent is likely to worsen in the coming years. This presents a challenge for both the public and private sectors: in both, organizations will need to manage the employee life cycle intelligently and creatively if they want to attract and retain the best people. One of the tools available to these organizations is to offer policies that better reconcile their employees’ personal and professional lives. For their part, professionals implicitly assume responsibility for fulfilling their obligations effectively and with commitment. Talent retention is already one of the main concerns of company chief executives and one of the foremost challenges facing human resources directors. Dependency, Work-Life Balance and New Family Models Dependency is an increasingly evident reality in our environment. Women’s entry into the workforce, increased life expectancy, population aging and other factors make dependency increasingly important in our society. Workers’ concern for people in their care who require special assistance causes stress, loss of focus while performing their work and, consequently, a decline in productivity. The Congress will also address disability and its integration into the business and social environment. Companies and all other organizations that make up our social reality must be aware that appropriately addressing these issues in all their aspects is also their responsibility and constitutes one of the fundamental pillars of social well-being and competitiveness. The Congress will analyze different government policies implemented in various regions and countries, as well as evaluate their results. Trends This module will present the main perspectives on work-life balance, equality, diversity, dependency and business competitiveness. Experts will share their experiences, reflections and views on the future of these variables. Local, National and International Government Policies Government policies, from the local to the international level, act as a driving force in achieving the well-being of the people they represent. Governments are aware that they have been elected to manage society’s resources efficiently. Their actions are guided by the objective of meeting the needs of individuals and the other groups that make up the social fabric. In this section, local, regional, national and international public bodies will present the initiatives and policies they are developing in each of the Congress’s thematic areas. These topics will always be analyzed with their impact on both the evolution of society and business competitiveness in mind.