Adeco unveils five trends in the world of work

#1 Era of the GIG economy: A new law in California limits the ability of companies to classify workers as liberal. This "move" is aimed at companies that critics say assign their liberal workers the responsibilities of fixed hours, for example, without, however, offering them the benefits corresponding to permanent workers, such as sick or holiday pay. However, the new law is likely to have consequences, such as more businesses simply foregoing working with freelancers in favour of fewer full-time employees or concentrating their efforts by sliding into other markets. Meanwhile, the GIG economy continues to grow, suggesting that clients, workers and businesses are committed to it.

Adecco tip: sometimes less is more: instead of rigid restrictions, it would be better to focus on smart regulations that make the gig economy work for everyone involved.

#2 Increasing the skills of workers (young and old) should be a priority:

The nature of work is changing. And it always has. Major changes have occurred in the last decade. The pace of change is such that we must focus on equipping workers of all ages with the skills they need to adapt to change.

Adecco Tip: Know the future and make 2020 the year to launch training for your employees.

#3 Automation, climate change, AI: some countries have turned their education systems around to prepare students for jobs of the future. Some universities are adapting their courses to meet the needs of "a changing society", focusing on trends such as climate change, data science and cyber security. And universities should prepare students for some jobs that do not yet exist, and the focus should be on "social skills" such as critical thinking and problem solving. This coincides with the decision of the Finnish Presidency which made, for example, an EU-wide online AI course freely available.

Adecco Tip: The future favours the prepared mind. Investing in learning new skills, whether digital or soft skills, will make you more competitive.

#4 Finnish Prime Minister suggested a 4-day work week or 6-hour days: Speaking of Finland, it has been widely reported that Sanna Marin, the Finnish Prime Minister, plans to introduce a four-day work week. This is not very accurate, as the Finnish government later made clear. The reports were based on remarks made by Marin before she took office, suggesting that the future may see shorter working days or a shorter working week. Whether it's a plan or not, the evidence suggests that shorter working days increase productivity. As John Brandon writes in Inc, the eight-hour working day is a remnant of industrial-era shift work. However, there is a major downside to the four-day week, even if it makes you more productive. Cutting the workweek can mean less time for long-term career development, management experts also say.

Adecco Tip: Working less and having more personal time sounds great, but every coin has two sides: consider all the consequences before redesigning your work life.

#5 Enhance high skill levels: the must-have New Year's resolution for businesses. Digital transformation depends on upskilling and re-skilling employees , not acquiring expensive talent from outside the company. But are the people leading the transformation qualified to perform the upskilling? It is therefore important to emphasise the importance of training your experts and keeping them up to date.

Adecco Tip: Train your trainers well and they will look after your employees, who will look after your business.

This article is republished under the partnership between Nova SBE Executive Education and Supply Chain Magazine » Read the original article