THE FUTURE OF WORK AND THE CHANGING SOCIAL CONTRACT

Instructions

Over the last three years, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the landscape of the workplace in a multitude of ways. Remote work has increased, a strong economy and low unemployment has given skilled employees greater negotiation power, and workers are more aware of what is meaningful to them—higher wages to keep pace with inflation, more flexibility, childcare support, strong health and retirement packages, and clear career plans with purpose and room for advancement. The culture of the workplace has also changed with workers expecting a more inclusive and empathetic environment.

Using course readings and additional scholarly articles of your choosing, talk about 1) What employees want from their workplace and whether this varies by identity characteristics (such as race, class, age, and gender), and 2) what you believe the workplace of the future will and should look like.