The Future of Work: Adapting to a Changing Landscape

Now more than ever, the future of work is a topic that holds tremendous significance. As technology continues to advance at an astonishing pace, the way we work is undergoing a profound transformation.

At the recent ICMS First Annual Employability Symposium, Jolanda Rotteveel, a Future of Work Consultant and People & Culture professional at House of Change, shared insights that shed light on the key trends and challenges shaping the way we work in the years to come.

Meet Jolanda Rotteveel

Jolanda Rotteveel is an expert in Employee Experience (EX), Human Resources (HR), and Organisational Development (OD).

With a rich history of driving impactful people projects and change initiatives, she is dedicated to facilitating modern work paradigms.

Rotteveel seamlessly integrates employee experience, innovative technology solutions, talent strategies, cultural enhancement, and forward-looking work design to achieve transformative outcomes.

Reimagining the Future of Work: Embracing the Technological Revolution

Rotteveel underscored the exponential growth of technology’s influence. She emphasised that technology’s power is doubling approximately every 18 months.

In this rapidly evolving landscape, organisations across all industries face the imperative of reevaluating their priorities.

What Does This Mean for Work?

WHERE work gets done: Embrace flexibility in the workplace.

WHEN work gets done: Allow for flexible hours and consider shorter workweeks.

WHAT work: Identify tasks that can be automated, work design, what new jobs we will need and focus on developing new skills.

WHO does the work: Embrace a workforce that includes flexible workers, global nomads, and freelancers.

HOW work is enabled: Leverage innovative technology solutions, and other key enablers like culture, ways of working, leadership, your workplace and employee experience.

Future-Proofing the Workforce

The future of work means recognising that there have been, and will continue to be, significant changes in how work is done.

Employers and employees alike need to:

• Acknowledge the decreasing half-life of skills; continuous learning and upskilling are essential. (WEF)
• Recognise that 9% of workers aged 20-24 now have multiple jobs. (ABS)
• Prepare for the rise of Gen Z, which is expected to make up almost 30% of the workforce by 2025. (WEF)

Early Career at Work

Being mindful of the difference in hiring today compared to years previously is the key to attracting and retaining the best young talent.

Rotteveel referenced Early Career research from TQ Solutions and The Career Conversation. She suggests the following are kept in mind when recruiting tomorrow’s workforce:

• A Gap in Expectations: Address the gap in expectations between generations, and update outdated hiring mindsets, and stereotypes. Gen Z candidates, for example, are increasingly weighing multiple job offers and negotiating terms.
• Corporate Readiness: Universities and colleges should play a role in developing ‘work readiness’ skills, which are increasingly in demand.
• Ways of Working: Identify and address frustrations in the current ways of working and consider developing new user manuals.

Key Focus Areas for Employers

Promotions and Growth: Explore how organisations can facilitate internal promotions and growth opportunities for employees.

Wellbeing and Mental Health: Recognise the value of employee support programs related to wellbeing and mental health.

Digital First Perspective: Embrace a digital-first perspective, including working with AI, and establish testing and guidelines.

Purpose and Values: Consider the impact and alignment of organisational values with employee expectations.

Flexibility and Autonomy: Define leadership roles in flexible workplaces and establish performance measurement criteria.

Connection: Explore ways to build and foster connections, particularly in a digital work environment.

Conclusion

Rotteveel’s presentation offered valuable insights into the future of work, emphasising the importance of adaptability, continuous learning, and the integration of technology in shaping the modern workforce.

As companies navigate this transformative period, it is clear that embracing change and fostering a forward-thinking organisational culture will be key to success.

• To delve deeper into these concepts and learn how to navigate the evolving landscape of work, find out more about House of Change FoW here.
• For more information about the ICMS First Annual Employability Symposium, click here.