Punching the clock : adapting to the new future of work

"Punching the Clock takes the best of psychological science to explore whether humans will effectively adapt to the gig economy and the Future of Work. Although the world of work is changing at unprecedented speed, the drives and needs of workers have not. Technology in the form of artificial intelligence and robotic process automation continues to transform jobs, taking away routine tasks from workers, both cognitive and physical alike. Work is broken down into smaller and smaller packets that can be seamlessly reintegrated into broader work products. Who does this work no longer needs to be full time employees or even reside on the same continent. Rather, tenuous relationships with contractors, freelancers, volunteers, or other third parties have become the norm, using talent platforms to find and complete work. Yet, inside the minds of workers, the needs and biases that govern behavior continue as if nothing has happened. Like any other social environment, workplaces key into deep psychological processes that have developed over millennia that dictate who and how workers interact. Psychologists working across disciplines have amassed a great deal of insight about the human psyche, but have not always been adept at articulating the practical implications of this insight, let alone how the human psyche will likely react to the gig economy. This book fills this void in knowledge, by explaining what is really going on in the minds of co-workers bringing this to life with a few surprising stories from the real world. Unlike the external world, the human psyche is a relative constant, which raises questions about just how much of the future of work can be realized without breaking down the social fabric of the workplace."