Younger Generation Reshaping The Workplace

Predictions

from the from-broadcast-model-to-collaborative dept

While we’ve been having some fun debating whether or not people doing personal surfing or playing games at work was a good thing, there’s increasing evidence that the new generations of workers are going to push this sort of thinking into the workplace – no matter how you feel about it. The younger generation of workers are now completely digitally literate, and believers in collaborative, open environments over broadcast, closed systems. The article points to a business school that had a WiFi setup in the classroom, which a professor turned off – and the students revolted, saying that it was a part of how they worked. That same attitude is pushing its way into the workplace as well. Since people are connected 24/7, and are expected to be doing work at 10pm at night, they see no good reason why they can’t play a quick game at 3pm. In fact, many argue, by letting employees work on their own time, they can be even more productive. This view contrasts greatly with the top-down management style that is still in place in many companies. Of course, that will adjust over time – when the younger workers either bring innovation in, or those older companies find themselves unable to compete, and unable to lure new talent. This is not, of course, to say that such systems can’t (or won’t) be abused. They will most certainly be abused. The response, though, is to deal with the abuse – and not punish everyone else for the bad seeds. If you’re not getting work done, then there’s clearly a problem – but that’s something that can be easily determined.