Future of Work Roundup - Week of December 12

Welcome to the Future of Work Roundup. Each week, we bring you five top stories—drawing from the latest academic research and industry trends—to give you an easily-digestible snapshot of how work is changing—and why it matters.

2023 Future of Work Predictions

IDC announced its Top 10 Future of Work predictions for 2023 and beyond. These predictions outline initiatives that can be leveraged by IT, HR, and other decision makers. For example, by 2024, organizations deploying employee micro-monitoring measures (camera/keystroke) will see a 20% decrease in actual employee productivity.

Growing demand for contract workers

Contract work is rising in the United States, a sign that employers are seeking greater flexibility amid economic uncertainty. In the past six months, the proportion of paid positions for contract work on LinkedIn grew 26% from the year-earlier period, compared to a 6% increase for full-time employment.

AI ChatGPT has gone viral

ABC News reports that in the past few days, ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence-driven program that responds to user prompts, has gone viral by showcasing different use cases from writing Shakespear poetry to identifying bugs in code. However, it also stoked some controversy over potential bias and free speech limits.

Improving productivity with collaborative intelligence

Based on research at The Work Innovation Lab, businesses that are hyper-focused on employee output and productivity are focusing on the wrong outcomes. Businesses can thrive by leveraging collaborative intelligence and doing things such as busting harmful siloes and identifying under-engaged workers.

EY scraps US holiday bonuses

According to reporting by the Financial Times, US staffers at Big Four accounting firm EY will not be getting a seasonal bonus this year. However, despite citing the economic climate as the reason, the company is still on pace to hire 220,000 new staffers for the year ending July 2023.

Thanks for reading. Stay tuned for next week’s Future of Work roundup.