How Our Relationship With Work Has Changed
photo by: @brookecagle
Our life is not complete without work. It's how we get paid, enjoy life and develop new talents. But what exactly does work mean?
In this article, we will explore the definition of work and its evolution over time. We will also look at the reasons behind the recent change in our approach to work.
Effects of technology
Increasing connectivity, automation, and remote work have made it easier to work from anywhere, at any time. But the issue is we can work anywhere, at any time and too many of us do that.
Changing workplace culture
Working from home or flexible working hours aren't the only ways the gig economy has changed the way we do our jobs. The work culture has undergone a significant change, and for the better.
With more control over their schedules and less work stress, gig workers are happier than ever. Because they are not bothered by office politics or other distractions that come with working in an office, they are also more productive than before.
Companies also benefit from this cultural shift, as their employees perform better and are happier and healthier than ever before.
Development of employee benefits
Employee benefits were previously limited to paid time off and health insurance. They have now expanded to include paid parental leave, which was only available to 5% of US workers in 2017, but is now offered by several companies, including Netflix, Amazon, and Microsoft.
The rise of new entrepreneurs
Among the most important causes of this change is the emergence of entrepreneurship.
More people than ever are turning to freelance work. In fact, 35% of US employment is currently made up of freelancers, and that number is expected to grow by 2027, according to Upwork's State of Freelancing 2018 report (the most recent available).
Startups are also on the rise: CB Insights' 2019 Startup Funding Report claims fundraising rounds grew 50% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2019 alone; meanwhile, start-ups raised a record $1 trillion in total capital in 2018 alone! Although these numbers may seem surprising at first glance, they represent only a small part of how our relationship with work is changing in modern society.
The growing importance of mental health
Mental health issues are becoming more prevalent as the workplace becomes more demanding. Many businesses are now putting a lot of emphasis on stress management. In fact, several businesses now have "mental health days" where workers can take time off to deal with stress or other issues that might be impacting their ability to function at work. This is fantastic news for those suffering from depression or anxiety who also need time away from work without having to worry about how it will affect their finances or even whether they will have a job at all.
Employees experiencing stress at work (or elsewhere) can discuss their issues with a counselor who can help them identify solutions and coping mechanisms.
Influence of social networks
The influence of social media is a force to be reckoned with. It's easy to see how this has eroded the work-life divide, making it challenging for us to disconnect after the work day is over. We have constant access to the lives of our contributors, so if you're not posting at least once a day or following relevant Instagram profiles, you might feel like you're missing out.
Social media further increases the pressure to succeed in ways that weren't feasible before If someone gets a promotion before you, they're likely to post about it on Facebook; if someone gets a better job offer than you (even if they don't really want it), you'll probably hear about it on Instagram; and if someone is doing something awesome in their free time (like running marathons), you can't help but see their selfies on Instagram.
Tomorrow's task
It is not only automation and artificial intelligence (AI) that will change the nature of work in the future. Other variables will affect how we operate in the coming years.
* More opportunities to work remotely: As more people use technology to interact with their coworkers around the world, they will be able to do so from anywhere in the world. The result could be more options for remote work.
* Greater focus on health: As we understand more about how stress and overwork affect our bodies, employers will likely begin providing more flexible schedules and better benefits in an effort to keep employees healthy (and happy).
Summary
Because of how we live and work, our relationship with work has changed. People can now choose where to live and work based on their own interests and aspirations as our lives have become more mobile, adaptable, and international. As a result of this flexibility, new ideas have emerged about what constitutes meaningful experiences at home or at work.
Technology has also had a significant impact on how we engage with each other and our surroundings; it has changed how we communicate, collaborate, learn and create, which are key elements of every modern business operation (or tomorrow).
