Future of Work Roundup - Week of December 5

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.

New worker bargaining chip

The pandemic hiring frenzy has led to an increase in workers applying for jobs just to get a better job offer that they can use to get a raise, according to a new Business Insider article. The reason? Even with layoffs and hiring slowdowns, pay disparity between new hires and existing employees has remained steady, about 7%.

More stay-at-home dads

According to reporting by Bloomberg, the number of dads who have exited the workforce to care for children under 18 has risen dramatically, though narrow government criteria have historically under-reported this trend.

Speaking abstractly

The Harvard Business Review reports that subtle differences in communication style can substantially impact how people are perceived, as more-abstract speech tends to be associated with power and leadership. This matters because according to research conducted by Cheryl Wakslak and Priyanka Joshi, men use abstract language more frequently, while women tend to speak more concretely.

Apple reducing production in China

The Wall Street Journal reported that in recent weeks, Apple has accelerated plans to move manufacturing out of China, precipitated by unrest at the giant iPhone factory in Zhengzhou. Apple is directing suppliers to plan more actively for assembling Apple products elsewhere in Asia, particularly India and Vietnam, and looking at reducing dependence on Taiwanese companies like Foxconn.

Remote prescription processing

A shortage of pharmacists has led CVS to test a system that allows pharmacists to process prescriptions remotely, according to reporting by the Wall Street Journal, a move it said could improve store working conditions and the experience for customers.

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