The Ever Changing American Workplace
The workplace environment is changing rapidly lately. It’s no wonder that every time I log on to cover a new topic, I discover that, nope! that’s old news. But it’s impossible to suggest that we should in any way ignore these changes, due in great part to the technological and political dynamics we now face,
Take artificial intelligence (AI) as an example. Depending on the source, it’s either going to destroy us or radically change the way we conduct business. How we move to the next phase with AI can possibly lead to either scenario. With so many consumers of varying sectors grasping AI and relying on it to perform functions that range from writing school papers to overtaking daily schedules and making big and serious decisions, such as those based on investments, operations, and potentially even human resources, it’s safe to say that we better embrace the value of AI but avoid getting out of hand with it.
Apparently, the workforce is still debating the merits and so-called costs of remote working. The way things are going, where more and more employees are willing to walk away from their jobs to continue working from home, it’s time companies learn to compromise. Sure, there are those willing to take advantage of the benefit, perhaps staying home and not getting anything done, but that can happen at the workplace as well. Who am I kidding? We’ve all run into a coworker who appears to do absolutely nothing at work. With the newer generations getting accustomed to working at their own pace, and heeding the lessons of past generations about the perils of overtime hours or the consumption of work responsibilities, I’m betting that those companies trying to reverse remote work are going to lose. It’s time to get on board!
The White House announced this week that there is a budget deal in place, but it must now sustain the scrutiny of both parties, especially since it includes the resumption of of outstanding federal tuition liabilities. A huge compromise on the part of the Biden-Kamala administration, but this move does not change the tuition cancellation it’s been pushing for some time. That part is still being determined by the Supreme Court, so there’s a possibility the whole program will be squashed, especially since there is a conservative majority at the high court. Either way, the decision will change the educational pursuits and goals of the newer generations with tuition costs at phenomenal levels. Good news for community colleges though, who have witnessed an uptick in enrollment. This suggests that many potential employees will still hit the workforce with an education of some sorts but what will happen with the bachelor’s and master’s programs? Your guess is as much as mine for the time being.
Immigration is another topic that can affect the American workforce. President Biden has moved to restrict the number of migrants to enter the US. The decision should have a huge impact on the hospitality and restaurant sectors, since immigrants do the work that most Americans either don’t want to do or are tired of doing. This is not taking a stand for or against the administration’s immigration policy, only to say that it will eventually lead to huge changes in the workforce.
