Technology facilitates flexibility
"The possibilities of billions of people connected by mobile devices, with unprecedented processing power, storage capacity, and access to knowledge, are unlimited. And these possibilities will be multiplied by emerging technology breakthroughs." -Klaus Schwab, World Economic Forum
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The Argument
It is 2020, and technology is more relevant than ever before; the future of work will be more flexible because technology will make it so. Technology has integrated itself into virtually every business and job in the world.
One way this flexibility will continue to rise is through remote work. Communication tools like Email, Microsoft Teams, Slack, and video conferencing tools like Skype and Zoom have made communication easy and limitless. From 2005 to 2019, there was a 159% increase in remote work.[1] Remote work has been made easy and sustainable now that people are connected by devices with communication tools and infinite amounts of information via the internet.
Moreover, the gig economy continues to grow rapidly because of tech.[2] Companies will hire more freelancers because they can complete work remotely, and freelancers will be able to find these opportunities more readily. Obstacles that hinder freelancers' ability to grow and connect with employers are no longer such prominent issues because they can utilize technology and social media to help them not only do their actual work but to find work to do.[3]
Technology will continue to grow even more pertinent and applicable to the workforce. This will make the future of work more flexible.
Counter arguments
The future of work will not be more flexible because remote work is not the future. There are several problems that arise within businesses and companies that rely heavily on remote work.
Technology is even responsible for one such issue. The more sophisticated tech used in workplaces often does not work as well remotely. The homes of remote workers are not laced with the miles of high-tech cabling that businesses and places of work often are. According to a study, 36 million American corporate technological devices run more slowly when they are remote.[4] Ordinary homes' lack of sophisticated tech hurts worker productivity.
Remote work has led to a loss of productivity. For instance, as the coronavirus pandemic continues, employers are weighing in. Some say their workers appear to be less connected, and bosses fear that younger professionals aren’t developing at the same rate as they would in the office interacting with colleagues and mentors.[4]
Freelancers may reap the benefits of technology in finding positions and getting hired to do remote work, but the future of the workplace as a whole will be grounded in the traditional and physical workplace.
Proponents
Premises
Rejecting the premises
References
- https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/flexjobs-gwa-report-remote-growth/
- https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/10359-gig-economy-trends.html
- https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200205005129/en/The-Future-of-Work-Is-Here-Freelance-Economy-Offers-Unparalleled-Opportunity-for-Growth-Moves-to-Close-the-Gender-Pay-Gap
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogertrapp/2020/07/21/remote-working-has-its-problems-but-it-points-to-the-future/#288d9831793a