Across fashion, companies that once embraced remote or hybrid work are increasingly pushing employees back into the office, with some moving towards four or even five days a week. At the same time, competition for jobs, particularly at entry level, is intensifying amid layoffs, slower industry growth and the rise of AI.
On this episode of The Debrief, senior correspondent Sheena Butler-Young (@sheena.butler.young ) and executive editor Brian Baskin (@bbaskin512 ) are joined by BoF Careers’ Sophie Soar (@sjsoar ) to unpack why the power balance has shifted back to employers, how different generations feel about being in the office, and what practical routes still exist for early-career talent trying to get a foot in the door.
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In the five years since the pandemic, fashion and beauty workplaces have undergone seismic change. Amid mounting economic uncertainty, geopolitical instability and the ongoing climate crisis, a workplace reckoning is underway. Employees are re-evaluating what truly matters at work and for many, that means reassessing everything from their employers’ values to compensation and flexibility.
According to BoF Careers’ 2025 global survey of over 1,000 professionals in 74 countries, only 15 percent of respondents said they were satisfied in their current roles. Meanwhile, 45 percent are actively looking for new jobs and workers today are prioritising fair pay, career progression, flexibility, value alignment and transparency over legacy prestige or perks.
On this episode of The Debrief, senior correspondent Sheena Butler-Young speaks with BoF’s commercial features director Sophie Soar to explore what talent really wants today and what employers need to do to attract and retain the best.
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The fashion workplace is evolving at a rapid pace, shaped by a wave of technological advancements, leadership changes, and shifting cultural dynamics. Hybrid and remote work, economic uncertainty, and generative AI are reshaping how teams collaborate and engage. For many employees, adapting to these changes has become a defining challenge, while employers must navigate how to foster connection, retain talent, and drive innovation.
This week on The Debrief, executive editor Brian Baskin (@bbaskin512 ) and senior correspondent Sheena Butler-Young (@sheena.butler.young ) sit down with BoF’s commercial features editorial director Sophie Soar (@sjsoar ) to unpack how businesses can create thriving workplaces in 2025, the role of soft skills in a tech-driven era, and what it takes to re-engage an increasingly disconnected workforce.
🎙️ Listen now #linkinbio
