Work 2.0: Fluid Workforce, Flexible Organisations

As 2022 winds down, now may be the perfect time to revisit career goals and aspirations, and introspect on where you wanted to be professionally at the beginning of this year. But before that, bear in mind that over the last couple of years, the nature of work has evolved significantly. From work-from-home to hybrid models, working from anywhere to back to office, “being employed” has taken varied forms. As employees donned multiple hats, organisations too morphed themselves to embrace these new forms.

Given the multiplicity of change, this year’s self-assessment of career paths may not be simple for many. Owing to an unsteady global economy, several organisations resorted to en masse layoffs. In India, specifically, thousands of employees lost their jobs in an unprecedented upheaval as moonlighting came under the spotlight. Meanwhile, many members of the active workforce chose flexibility over ‘return to work’ diktats, stepping into the burgeoning gig space. The tectonic shifts across sectors not only made way for a healthy debate on what works and what doesn’t—both from an employer’s and employee’s perspective—it also brought a level of acceptance on either side. With employees looking to adjust their career sails with alternative work strategies, more and more organisations are realising that the time to sit on the fence is over.

In this issue, we bring to you a glimpse of the future of work that may see firms re-evaluating their organisational practices, keeping change management centrestage, integrating portfolio careers alongside regular jobs, and much more.

• The growing professional gig economy is leading the way to a new economic revolution. Learn about the challenges and opportunities it presents for knowledge workers and organisations.
• Layoffs don’t just impact employees but also affect a firm’s reputation in the market. Explore why layoffs take place and what individuals and firms can do to manage them better.
• Is moonlighting the phenomenon that stands to change the way work exists? Listen to our podcast to know more about the practice and how it will shape the future of work.
• Change management is a leadership imperative in current times. Learn how to steer your teams through change, and how to adapt and collaborate as an employee. 
   

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Thank you for reading and listening!

Stay safe!

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