Tammy Erickson, Harvard Business Review contributor and author of multiple books, including Retire Retirement and Workforce Crisis, has written about the five key changes she is expecting in the workplace in 2010. What do you think? Do you agree with her?
- Two-job norm — More people will maintain two sources of income than ever before. Instead of relying on the onetime holy grail of employment — a salaried job with full benefits — workers will create a series of backup options. For many, especially those in creative or knowledge-based work, this is likely to include becoming entrepreneurs. A second job or even a small entrepreneurial venture provides a safety net, giving workers a small measure of control over their fate in an increasingly unstable environment.
- Less “off hours” work — Recession-management approaches that made full-time employees take a day a week “off” planted some new questions in the minds of employees who had been working virtually 24×7. What is a “day?” Eight hours? Twenty percent of the time I normally work each week? For many, these questions lead inevitably to: If they only want me to work four days a week, why am I working more than 32 hours? Many companies have come to rely on very long work weeks as staffing cuts lead to more work for the remaining individuals and technology facilitated round-the-clock work. I expect to see more push back this year — in part because many individuals will be spending time advancing their second work option.
- Competition for discretionary energy — Engagement has been a hot topic in talent management circles for the past decade. But its benefits have focused primarily on attracting and retaining employees. Increasingly, managers’ focus will shift to competing for an employee’s discretionary energy — competing with other priorities in the employee’s life, including other options for work — but also competing against employees who are only “going through the motions.” More and more of the work in today’s economy cannot be done rotely — success requires a spark of extra effort, creativity, collaboration, and innovation.
- More diverse arrangements — By now, most companies have put a variety of flex work options on the books. In 2010, I believe these arrangements will begin to take hold in significant ways, driven by employee preferences, facilitated by new technologies, supported by new managers who themselves are more comfortable with virtual work.
- Transparent, “adult” arrangements — My favorite change is the growth in what I like to call “communities of adults” — a philosophy of recasting the employment relationship from one of paternalistic care to adult choice. A simple example is offering a menu of benefit options and letting employees choose those that work best. Further along the spectrum would include encouraging employees to “own” their own feedback process or even set their own compensation levels. These sorts of changes won’t settle in this year, but they’re coming. I expect we’ll see more examples as the year progresses.
Source: HBR blogs
What a timeous post! My wife and I were just chatting about this whole subject. We are both aware of how much of our daily energy we commit to our traditional employers but at the same time we are both pursuing independant business interests.
As the recession has bit there have been increasing demands on our “jobs” to make-up for fewer resources etc while colleagues are laid off or positions are not filled.
But at the same time we want to be able to use our free time to build our other investments.
Sorry and I wanted to add – we are splitting up our resources between our jobs and our own businesses but we’re becoming increasingly aware of how our quality of life is being negatively impacted.
We come home late, the kids are rushed from the time they wake-up to the the time they go to bed. We’re stressed.
On top of that we’re both award-winning / relatively highly regarded in our fields so our employers want more out of us.
It’s a very tricky balance.
Marc,
You’re right, and your personal reflections are helpful – there isn’t a simple solution that solves all problems. We’re all going to need to work out how to have the lives we’re looking for.
I remember hearing a young mother who had gone back to work explain how one day she had done the maths about how much it was costing her to be at work (childcare, daycare, home help, transport, food, clothes, etc) and realised she was earning less than this cost. Yet, she also felt that working was helping her be a better person. Tough choices!
For me, the exicting thing about the new world of work is the options and choices it provides. Employers that give more options will get better workers. But there isn’t a one size fits all best case solution.
Graeme