Time. An entity which is fluid yet demands ridged adherence. Society has always considered time as a complex concept with practical application … or so we thought. The 9 to 5 work schedule which has dominated the traditional notion of the workday of the twentieth century is now obsolete as we explore what the future of work holds and the expectations that will be applied to it.
In my own experience, this is already a prevalent factor in working life – particularly running my own business. Many a time has a client contacted me on a Sunday evening with urgent updates to their website that need to be made before ‘opening of business’ on a Monday morning at 9am. This is a common occurrence not only for business owners who must be available 24/7 to attend to customer needs (more so in professions of a white-collar nature) but for individuals that work for companies in a variety of industries. This ranges from lawyers working 15 hour days at major firms to the staff of British Vogue taking 12-hour shifts during the first day of May (the Met Gala) to ensure complete coverage.
This change in approach and expectation of unconventional work hours stems from technological advancements and the global connectivity that lies at every individual’s fingertips. News networks now need to have employees working at all times so they are able to ensure coverage of what is happening anywhere around the world (regardless of time zones) to maintain competitive advantage and relevancy. The driving force behind these changes regarding the future of work, in my opinion, is not employers but rather consumers. It is now expected that a consumer can get what they want when they want it and with the increasing number of start-ups, e-commerce sites and sole practitioners this is made possible with increasing ease. Consequently, convenience and accessibility is now essential to the success and indeed survival of any company.
For businesses to stay profitable and individuals to progress in their careers, this is now not only expected but necessary. Welcome to the future.
I found myself in Wonderland 