Freelancers and robots: 101 interesting facts about how the work will be in the future

The world of work is changing dramatically. But are people ready for these changes? Some of them are radical and obvious - the development of artificial intelligence, the spread of technologies that make it possible to “do anything from anywhere.” Writes about this with the BBC.

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Other ideas are just starting to emerge, such as monitoring content for gender balance or new smart offices.

Behind all this are people whose ideas and views form the next section of our lives.

If you want to know in which world you will work soon, you need to know this 101 idea, thing and person.

1. Life up to 100 years

More than ever in history, we are closer to being able to live to be 100 years old.

But whether this will be a blessing to society and the economy, or, conversely, a curse, depends on how we can prepare for such a lifespan.

2G

Self-driving cars, robotics and smart cities will all operate over the 5G wireless network. This is the next step in the mobile internet - and it's here. Practically.

3. Adaptability coefficient (AQ)

In an ever-changing work environment, the success marker may not be IQ, but AQ, that is, the ability to adapt quickly.

4. Algorithm bias

More cars than ever are able to recognize us. But automatic recognition is subject to unintentional discrimination by race, gender, and other factors.

Activist Joy Buolamwin and his associates are trying to correct these prejudices.

5. Anti-distraction applications

One way or another, but the Internet is very distracting to our attention. Perhaps an application that blocks sites will help focus.

6. Autofill

We are starting to trust artificial intelligence to write emails in our place. Although this tool undoubtedly saves time, it changes our communication.

7. Automated hiring and dismissal

Artificial intelligence may consider your job application. But he can also be allowed to scan your social networks, analyze facial expressions or even fire you.

8. Biohacking

Fasting, microdosing, nutritional supplements - people go to great lengths to improve productivity, even if these methods have not been proven to be effective.

9. Biometric Resumes

Wearable devices that track our physical activity and health are extremely popular. But whether their data can be used in the process of selecting candidates or analyzing labor performance is a big question.

On the subject: 50 US cities where average wages are not enough to live on

10. Offices that breathe

Rethinking the design, decoration and operation of buildings will contribute to better working conditions that will preserve the health of workers and increase productivity.

11. Burnout

The idea that we can work more and be better in everything creates a feeling of exhaustion and anxiety due to the inadequacy of these high expectations.

12. Cities without cars

Oslo is one of the last cities to completely free the center from vehicles. Although some drivers and business owners are unhappy with this initiative, its benefits are significant.

13. Chinese labor culture 996

The Chinese work culture envisages work from nine in the morning until nine in the evening six days a week. Technological workers have recently begun to rebel against such a schedule.

14. Coaling

Instead of a traditional dwelling, millennials choose a cheap and flexible life in common areas. Perhaps this will be urban life in the future.

15. Inequality in pair

When a couple has children, women spend disproportionately more time at home and men at the office. It will take a lot of effort on all sides to even out this discrepancy.

16. Crowdfunding

Initially, the goal of crowdfunding was to support innovation and the people who need it. But now he has become the main source of income for popular personalities in social networks, which causes a rather mixed attitude.

17. Deep work

Constantly being “connected” does not allow us to deeply focus on any one task. This is a problem for companies that strive to get the best out of their employees.

18. Anti-growth movement

Economic growth leads to excessive consumption and climate change. Proponents of anti-growth argue that shrinking the economy will benefit.

19. Digital Detox

If you are afraid that you have developed a dependency on your smartphone, relax. A whole new industry offers ways to disconnect from gadgets and start enjoying life.

20. Digital Nomads

While remote work initially meant a cheap lifestyle, more and more companies are now offering digital nomads luxury cruises or exclusive trips to exotic destinations—for a pretty penny.

21. Diversity Monitoring

Some organizations monitor their content for gender balance and other indicators of diversity. Understanding the scope of the problem is the first step to solving it.

22. E-citizenship

For a small fee, you can become a digital Estonian. Since technology has created flexible working conditions for most of us, can countries compete to attract e-citizens?

23. Electric scooters

Quiet two-wheelers are becoming ubiquitous, helping solve the last-mile problem for millions of city workers.

24. Minimalism

Marie Kondo taught us how to create our own space, leaving only the most important. But is it possible to apply its philosophy of reasonable minimalism to professional life?

25. Face recognition

Face recognition technology already allows us to cross borders, gain access to our phone and bank account, and soon to the office.

26. Website for financiers

Office fashion is becoming increasingly laid-back. Even some of the most conservative organizations are replacing formal suits with comfortable casual wear.

27. FIRE movement

FIRE stands for “Financial Independence and Early Retirement.” Advocates of this movement, usually in their 20s and 30s, resort to extreme savings methods and work harder to retire as quickly as possible and be financially independent.

28. Shame on air travel (flygskam)

Or flight shame. This is a new movement for refusing to use air transport due to the fact that it causes significant damage to the ecology of the planet.

Over the past year, for example, the Swedes have significantly reduced the number of flights on domestic flights, reseeding on trains. If flight shame becomes the norm, the very concept of business travel will change dramatically.

29. Work 4 days

The idea of ​​a 4-day work week is becoming increasingly popular. Employers see its results in happy, healthy, and productive workers. Perhaps this is really a win-win option?

30. Fred Swaniker

An entrepreneur and leadership expert from Ghana has proposed an education model that will bring millions of successful leaders and jobs to Africa by 2035.

31. Freddy Vega

Only half of Hispanic college-aged students graduate. Freddie Vega, entrepreneur and co-founder of Platzi's online education platform, hopes to change that.

32. The work of ghosts

Behind your every Google search or YouTube video is the work of thousands of invisible workers, most likely from another continent. Although the work of these “ghosts” is critical to leading technology companies, their treatment and working conditions often fall short of modern standards.

33. Hosting at work

Ghosting is the act of ending a relationship online without any explanation or communication. But now this term also refers to the behavior of workers who simply disappear from work without warning management.

34. Gig economy

A new model of labor relations, which is based on short-term contracts with freelancers instead of permanent jobs.

While the opportunity to be your own boss is appealing, the new job market has its fair share of pitfalls.

35. Globotics

Combine sophisticated machine learning with the growth of remote work and get globotics. However, white-collar workers and service workers may not have a place in it.

36. Perseverance

One theory says that the secret to success is not innate talent or skill. And not even in practice. But only in the ability not to give up.

37. Lucky Coaches

India has a relatively high level of anxiety and depression, one of the main factors of which is work stress. Some corporations turn to coaches for happiness, trying to change their corporate culture.

38. Subtle flaws

About 700 million people in the world suffer from dyslexia (difficulties in mastering reading skills).

However, innovations in the design of sites and devices, for example, smart pens, will make jobs more accessible for people with this problem.

39. Hidden “likes”

The economy of social networks is booming thanks to readers and likes. And what happens if you hide them?

On the subject: 10 U.S. cities with growing jobs, salaries, and housing

40. Dining sleep

Japanese people falling asleep in public places have long become a symbol of the country's backbreaking labor. To prevent this, companies have begun introducing a naptime lunch break, known as girun.

41. Humanity

With the development of artificial intelligence, more and more jobs will be automated.

In order not to be left without work, you will have to use the philosophy of continuous training, as well as combine technical knowledge with social skills.

42. Humble Leaders

Bosses like to lead, but if you constantly talk, you may miss something important. The ability to listen to a different point of view is an extremely useful skill.

43. Hyperprotection

Some companies already use the latest technology to monitor employee performance. But how far can such an observation go? And how will it affect the welfare of workers?

44. Office days

Remote work is great. And being able to come into the office sometimes is even better.

45. Inclusion workshops

After several large companies received allegations of discrimination, in particular hidden discrimination, firms began to conduct training for their employees.

The purpose of inclusion workshops is to prevent any form of bias.

46. ​​Virtual influencers

Many Japanese companies are promoting virtual vloggers—animated versions of real YouTube influencers.

47. JOMO (joy to miss something)

This is the opposite idea of ​​FOMO - fear of missing out. It consists of giving up the constant stress associated with the desire to be aware of all events, accompanied by obsessive viewing of social networks.

48. Karoshi

Diligent work is highly appreciated in Japan. But what price does one have to pay for it? “Karoshi” in Japanese means sudden death due to overwork and stress.

49. Kkondae

The Korean word, which means tension in the relations of different generations that occurs in the modern workplace.

50. #KuToo

Yumi Ishikawa unexpectedly became an activist by posting a tweet about how she suffers from high heels that she must wear at work.

51. Leaveism

Another trend associated with overwork at work, when employees take sick leave or leave to catch up with work that they do not have time to do in the office.

52 Libra

Will Facebook cryptocurrency be the first truly international currency?

53. Collaboration 2.0

Join forces with someone who has similar professional qualifications and skills to work in the same position.

54. Liz Johnson

Paralympic champion, gold medalist who actively advocates for equal rights in the workplace.

55. The Economics of Longevity

The idea of ​​“old age” is antithetical to business thinking. But attracting older people along with the younger generation makes it possible to overcome the “demographic time bomb.”

56. Mari Jamme

A British entrepreneur of Senegalese descent is going to teach coding one million women in ten years.

57. Masayoshi Song

The CEO of SoftBank, Japan's second-largest company, has become the most ambitious and biggest-spending investor in Silicon Valley.

58. Me Too

This global movement has changed and continues to change the working atmosphere.

59. Mia Perdomo and Andrea de la Piedra

Founders of Aequales, a Latin American company based on gender equality.

60. Micro breaks

Taking regular, short breaks from intense work—even just a few seconds—can bring enormous benefits.

61. Microdoses

Some IT workers are convinced that a small amount of psychedelic drugs increase productivity and creativity. Scientists are testing this hypothesis.

62. Microelectric network

Small, easy-to-install power grids can solve the problem of power outages in developing countries.

63. Nanoinfluencers

Well-known bloggers, stars of social networks, can communicate with millions of their readers in one publication.

But brands are increasingly choosing local celebrities. They can only have a couple of thousand followers, but they are closer to them.

64. Neurodiversity

Different people's brains don't work the same way, but job selection and office life are mostly guided by the "norm." The situation will soon change.

65. Gender Variability

In the professional field, awareness and acceptance of gender diversity also gradually comes. This makes the atmosphere in the labor market more tolerant and even.

66. Noise pollution

Today, most offices are open-space-based. But the constant background noise makes employees distracted and increases fatigue. However, oddly enough, you can improve the situation by adding even more sounds, for example, listening to white noise.

67. Office garden

You can make your office more environmentally friendly by growing vegetables for lunch right there.

68. Exploitation of hobbies

Work for the sake of experience, that is, without payment, is becoming increasingly popular. This practice, first of all, often happens in creative industries, such as the media or music industry.

69. Transparent salaries

Asking colleagues about their salaries used to be taboo. But now that may change. Transparent salaries are a good way to combat gender, ethnic or any other inequality.

70. People's analytics

The hiring process is far from always objective through elitism or prejudice. Will the situation change if algorithms get down to business?

71. Permanence

The situation when a freelance freelancer starts working for the company full time, but does not have all the advantages of a permanent position.

72. Cooperative platforms

Technology giants such as Uber and Deliveroo exist at the expense of independent contractors, on which they transfer responsibility for any risks.

The new global movement is trying to create alternative companies that will combine the platform model with the transfer of ownership into the hands of workers.

73. Cloud Offices

The ability to work remotely caused a rapid increase in coworking. But now an impromptu office can appear anywhere, even at the airport or shopping center.

74. Career Portfolio

In the near future, the traditional career path may change dramatically. A combination of professional skills from different industries, for example, a designer / animator / vloger, will become common.

75. Post-workers society

Automation, obviously, will make our life easier and more convenient, but they will not rob us of all the work?

Philosophers and futurists are trying to imagine what the world will be like in which work disappears.

76. Presentism

This is a phenomenon when an employee who feels physically or mentally ill still comes to work, but is present at it only formally, because he has very low productivity.

77. Nanny for procrastinators

You need to work, and the smartphone does not stop buzzing? For a small fee, a concentration coach will help you overcome procrastination.

78. Playlist for performance

Listening to music while working can set the right rhythm, increase speed and concentration.

79. Polite honesty

Feedback on the work, which is expressed softer than the brutal straightforwardness of management in 1980, but more honest than the compassionate lies of the XNUMXst century.

80. Remote workforce

Some cities financially encourage people to move to them. They hope that remote workforce will contribute to the local economy and population.

81. Reverse Mentoring

The older generation can learn a lot from their younger colleagues. But some cultures find it hard to accept.

82. “Right to Repair” movement

The policy of many manufacturers of modern technology suggests that a broken gadget can only be replaced, not repaired. Some activists oppose this trend.

83. Get up and work

The modern cult of workaholism, the false positive of which turns a blind eye to the problem of burnout and unemployment of the millennials.

84. Satellite Internet

About half of the world's population is still offline. Connecting to this workforce via satellite Internet can radically change the global labor market.

85. Shopify

Today, opening an online store is easier than ever.

86. Slack

This real-time chat has helped many companies increase productivity and reduce email conversations.

87. Smart offices

In the near future, we will work in automated, personalized and centralized offices.

88. Soft skills

Today, the most important are abilities that automated systems do not have, for example, creativity, flexibility, the ability to convince. However, it turns out that finding such specialists is not easy.

89. Units

The new method of organizing work, which was first introduced by the music giant Spotify, transfers control into the hands of specialized teams in the office.

90. Super applications

Insanely popular in Asia, apps that do everything for you - from booking travel to purchasing things - are radically changing the way people live and do business.

91. Superbot

If you already feel that you are working on three jobs at the same time, know that this is exactly what the work will be in the future.

92. Telepresence

Instead of empowering robots with the mind to complete tasks on their own, it’s easier to let someone control them from a distance. But this, of course, will turn upside down the whole system of who, where and when does the task.

93. Thermostats

It looks like scientists will soon find the answer to the eternal stumbling block - at what temperature do we work best?

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94. Tik Tok

The social network where video content will quickly develop is not YouTube or Instagram. There is a lot of money to be made from TikTok.

95. Unconscious prejudice

Some judgments affect our decisions more than we realize. As a result, we become more prone to discrimination.

96. Universal Basic Income

The utopian idea of ​​Thomas More about the “free” money that the state should give to its citizens no longer seems so fantastic.

It will become primarily relevant if the automation of labor makes most of us unemployed.

97. Unlimited rest

Unlimited paid time off is every worker's dream, but it can actually be quite draining.

98. Retirement

Retirees often return to work - some of their own free will, while others simply have no other choice. But will they find jobs?

99. United States Women's Football Team

Set records for the number of victories and the volume of the audience. However, they still receive lower salaries and worse working conditions than male footballers. That's why they sued.

100. We company

The world giant with coworking seeks to blur more and more the line between your work and personal life. Their future depends on it.

101. Coworking for women

Work spaces reserved exclusively for women are a response to the popularity of closed men's clubs and the masculine culture of technology companies.

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