Work Revolution

YES, THE FUTURE OF WORK IS RADICALLY CHANGING!

NO, WORK WILL ONLY SEE INCREMENTAL CHANGES.

 Automation and AI are replacing humans at work.

Human intelligence and abilities are still needed in the workplace

Computing power, data, algorithms, and automation technologies have enabled robots and AI to perform physical and predictive tasks with such accuracy and complexity-often surpassing humans. As a result, AI can potentially replace the human workforce across many industries, such as manufacturing and healthcare.

ChatGPT, for example, is a powerful tool that can perform tasks such as coding and computer programming, content creation, market research, customer service and graphic designing.

Human abilities are unique and expansive, capable of imagining, anticipating, feeling, and assessing evolving situations. AI complements and amplifies human capabilities, not replaces them.

So far, there is no evidence that AI has led to overall job losses to date. While it may take over repetitive tasks, but it is not eliminating jobs altogether. On the contrary, AI has the potential to enable new industries to emerge and create new job opportunities. These new jobs will require new skill sets, highlighting the importance of reskilling and upskilling.

Work environments are better than ever before.

Workplace challenges persist; some argue they’ve increased.

Employees today want flexibility, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Both governments and companies are responding to their demands.

Singapore's Enabling Masterplan 2030 targets a 40 percent employment rate for persons with disabilities by 2030, and many companies are embracing workplace inclusivity. Singapore is also codifying laws against workplace discrimination .

In line with global trends, some Singapore companies are offering flexible work arrangements, benefitting employees with caregiving duties and promotes better work-life harmony.

Quiet quitting and the Great Resignation are ongoing trends that suggest a persistent problem in the workplace with no clear solution in sight.

Burnout, increased stress levels, and heavy workloads have led to almost a quarter of Singapore employees wanting to leave their jobs in early 2022. Companies are not offering sufficient mental health support or adequate training to perform effectively.

Singapore companies also lag in implementing DEI policies with only 30 percent having a formal approach in place.

Flexible work arrangements are here to stay

9-to-5 work culture in the office is still valued.

Working remotely increases employees’ productivity, [improves their overall well-being, strengthens family relationships, makes them happier and decreases their stress levels. Some global companies, including Twitter and Airbnb, have committed to allowing employees to work remotely permanently.

Companies in the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan and New Zealand are trialing a four-day work week. In Singapore, the four-day work week is one of the many flexible work arrangements that is encouraged, depending on the business’ and employee’s needs. Employees reported less stress and fatigue, improved work-life balance and satisfaction, increased productivity, and significant savings on transportation and childcare as benefits of a shortened work week.

Other benefits include lower absenteeism and increased cost-effectiveness. As employees no longer require permanent physical workspaces, companies can shrink their office sizes and expenses, making way for areas of collaboration, innovation, and community-building.

As pandemic restrictions lift, the future of remote work remains uncertain. While some have lauded the benefits of working from home, others debate the impact of remote work on employee communication and collaboration. A 2022 Gallup survey found “less access” to work resources and equipment and less “connection” to organisation’s culture are top challenges in a hybrid work model.

Several companies are tightening their flexible work arrangements, such as Disney mandating the return to office four days a week citing the importance of in-person collaboration, camaraderie and mentorship. In Singapore, nearly half of the workforce has resumed working full-time at their offices post-pandemic.

A physical working space provides a focused environment, and fosters connection, collaboration, and innovation, creating a sense of belonging. Working remotely blurs work-life boundaries, increases social isolation risks and there may be implications for career progression or salary growth.