In this episode of The Future of Less Work, host Nirit Cohen sits down with Giorgio Benassi, Global Talent Acquisition Director at Sephora, to unpack what it really takes to attract and retain talent in the evolving world of retail.

You’ll learn:

Why fewer people want retail jobs—and what’s replacing them
How flexibility can be offered without remote work
What “gigification” of retail really looks like
How alumni networks can help rehire better and faster
Why we need to rethink short-term jobs as long-term talent strategies

This is a conversation about rethinking how we design work in industries where flexibility isn’t about location, but about time, autonomy, and identity. It’s a must-watch for HR leaders, retail executives, and anyone rethinking frontline work in the age of autonomy, gig work, and rapid change.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey-zdqJ5-68

Guest Information:

Giorgio Benassi is a global leader in the Talent space, with experience living and working in Italy, the Netherlands, Hong Kong and Spain. He was the former Group Head of Talent at H&M Group and is currently leading Talent Acquisition globally for Sephora. He has a lot of experience in the retail and consumer world.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/giorgiobenassi/

Chapters:

00:00 Turning Retail High Turnover into a Talent Advantage

01:33 The Future of Work in Retail

02:51 How Did COVID Reshape Talent Expectations?

04:47 Why Fewer People Want to Work in Retail?

06:15 Retail’s New Competitors for Talent

10:11 How Can Retail Offer Flexibility Without Remote Work?

11:54 Retail Workers Want to Choose Their Own Schedules

13:53 Why Retail Turnover Increased Post-COVID

15:23 It’s Time to Normalize Short-Term Careers in Retail

17:41 How to Build a Skills-Based Talent Pool in Retail

19:15 Retail Should Create Alumni Networks for Rehiring

23:27 What Will Separate Retail Brands in the Next 2 Years?

25:11 Why Flexibility Is the Key to Attracting the Right Talent

26:19 Could the Future of Retail Be Uberized?

27:31 What Human Needs Should We Solve for in Retail Work?

Turnover might actually be retail’s secret advantage with Giorgio Benassi