Kason Morris on AI, Skills, and Why Work-Life Balance is a Myth

Today’s workforce conversation is stuck. 

We’re still talking about “work-life balance” while work itself is being redefined. We’re selling skills-based career paths while the business demands productivity, now. 

Meanwhile, AI is reshaping how—and who—gets work.

In this episode of Skills Connect, Reejig CEO Siobhan Savage sits down with Kason Morris, Global Director of Workforce Strategy at Merck and one of the most influential voices in human-centered design for work. With two decades of experience leading transformation across six industries, Kason brings a rare combination of systems thinking, skills strategy, and on-the-ground reality.

They unpack why the old models no longer work, how to reframe internal mobility as a business strategy (not an HR perk), and what leaders must do now to design for a future that’s bold, responsible, and fair.

1. “Work-life balance is a false dichotomy”

Kason Morris doesn’t believe in work-life balance—and he’s clear about why.

“Work-life balance is a false dichotomy because work and life will never truly be equal... Work is a utility of life.”

He challenges leaders to stop designing policies that treat work and life as competing forces. Instead, think in terms of synergy—where work decisions are made in the context of life, not the other way around.

Takeaway: Stop optimizing for balance. Start enabling life-work design that creates proximity, presence, and purpose.

2. “It isn’t about the idea that AI will replace you”

Kason is blunt about the AI shift—and what it really means for people.

“It isn’t about the idea that AI will replace you. It’s about the people that know how to work with AI… Those are the people that will thrive in this next normal.”

The challenge isn’t just adoption—it’s human capacity. The pace of change is outpacing our ability to keep up. Those who figure out how to use AI to elevate, not replace, human judgment will win.

Takeaway: Build AI-human literacy into your workforce. Focus on augmentation, not substitution.

3. “Employees for the future… they care about growth more than they care about pay”

Forget perks and vague development promises. Growth is the real currency of employee value.

“Employees for the future… they care about growth more than they care about pay.”

Kason argues that internal talent marketplaces aren’t just a retention tool—they’re a platform for reinvention. They help surface untapped capabilities, reallocate skills, and give people a path to evolve with the business.

Takeaway: Don’t sell mobility as a benefit. Frame it as your company's way to grow people while meeting business needs.

4. “Skills not connected to task or key outcomes are just words”

The skills conversation has gone off track.

“Skills not connected to task or key outcomes are just words.”

Kason stresses the need to start with the work—not just capabilities. What’s the critical work? What tasks deliver on that? Only then should we talk about what skills are needed and where they live in the organization.

Takeaway: Map the work first. Then align skills, people, and decisions around it.

5. “You have huge spends for external vendors… But is that content aligned to growth?”

Many learning orgs are sitting on expensive content libraries—but missing the point.

“You have huge spends for external vendors… But is that content aligned to growth in a way that’s driving outcomes?”

For CLOs and HR leaders, it’s time to stop measuring learning by volume and start measuring impact. This means shifting from course catalogues to performance consulting, guided by data and business priorities.

Takeaway: Redesign learning functions to drive outcomes, not just deliver content.

Final Thought: Prepare now—or scramble later

We're in the messy middle of AI-driven reinvention. Leaders who wait for perfect answers will get left behind. Those who take action—auditing their work, activating marketplaces, re-skilling at scale—will be ready when the pressure hits.

As Kason put it:

“Don’t wait for disruption to force your hand. Reinvent now—boldly, responsibly, and with intelligence.”

Listen on Spotify.

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