People have been talking about the future of work for decades, and it’s always an interesting, controversial, and complicated topic. This Blog gives us new ideas how to address this large and complex issue.
The goal is to discuss the big issues we all face by the future of work: jobs, wages, unemployment, income inequality, and how businesses and governments collaborate in the future. Let us focus on new ideas, big problems, and changemaker strategies.
My keynote focus is on the five issues employers face in the future, and the individual’s role in the future of work.
The five issues I discuss are the role of automation, the changing nature of jobs, the disruptive nature of hybrid work, the need for diversity, and the new, human-centric role of leadership. Let us discuss work on the hundred-year life, and how lives and societies are changing from longevity and a reduction in the birth rate.
But perhaps the most interesting discussion of all, which challenges us to “change the game’ is
-The future of work is really the future of society. We, as collective business leaders and policy makers, have to decide what kind of future we want. The Netherlands, for example, faces high levels of underemployment, childhood depression, and income inequality like almost every other developed country in the world. This nation has also experienced high levels of immigration, and feels challenged to create diversity and inclusion at all levels of society.
Does this sound familiar?
Every country faces these issues today, and we can no longer expect our political institutions to “fix them” overnight. We, as business people, HR leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals, must create a future of work that is balanced, equitable, healthy, and inclusive. We must design our companies to pay people fairly, prevent bias based on degree or education, and create opportunities for everyone.
An entire event can become a celebration and problem solving session, showing companies how they can raise people up in the workplace, give people new career pathways, and create growth in a company without the cost and complexity of over-hiring based on credentials.
how technology, demographics, culture, and public policy must come together to foster new ideas for inclusive growth, wellbeing, and economic success.
The Value Of Open Discussion
By bringing diverse group together, we can explore and discuss many important issues.
Should the country create forced government service for young people? Should University degrees be so highly valued in the society? How can young people, who feel left behind by inflation, gain traction and a sense of confidence as jobs continue to change? And how can those in small businesses invest in education, wage growth, and human capital investment? Should industry groups team together to share talent and resources? Should universities partner with local companies to change their curricula? Should Countries consider rules like Denmark, where unemployed must attend classes in order to receive unemployment checks?
These issues are hard to solve in a traditional democracy, and they force discussion between young and old, labor and management, business and public sector leaders.
Such discussions can bring all stakeholders together. And while the political process is slow, I believe many important conversations can take place. I see policy makers talk with business leaders and NGOs, discussing ways that low-income workers could be retrained or revitalized through education and apprenticeship. Entrepreneurs describe new models of hiring, encouraging large companies to be more flexible. And dozens of good ideas emerge.
The Future of Work is not a book or a speech, it is a set of values-based decisions, many of which we make every day.
Should we raise wages to help people improve their standard of living? Should we lay people off indiscriminately or give them a lifeline to their new job? Should we invest in more internal mobility, job sharing, and flexible work for mothers, older workers, and those with disabilities?
We, as HR and business leaders, make these decisions all the time. And with each decision, as small as it seems, we change the nature of our communities and our society in a profound and important manner. So let me leave you with that thought. Every decision you make about your team, your workforce, or your company, is a “statement” about the future of work.
Go thoughtfully into the coming year, we will face many interesting challenges. If we talk about these issues together with all our stakeholders, we can make the future of work better for everyone.