Digitalisation is changing work
Digitalisation is both an opportunity and a challenge, is changing work as we know it across sectors and is shaping industry, services and markets. In a recently adopted position Eurocadres underlines some important aspects to work on to achieve a better outcome in digitalisation.
Following the event on digitalisation and professionals & managers held in Paris in October the Executive has adopted a position on digitalisation.
Digitalisation might release workers from some repetitive tasks; make work more agile, more cooperative. It might shape a new world of work with different, more and new types of jobs which will require more highly skilled professionals who will, at the same time, require new forms of training to be able to face all the changes and requirements that the jobs will demand from them.
On the other hand, the global effects on the quality of employment, working conditions, forms of work, are difficult to evaluate precisely.
Collaborative economy creates social security challenges
The growing collaborative economy may create jobs for professional and managerial staff as they carry out a large part of work on digital platforms. At the same time, they must take responsibility with regards to all the legal, professional and social aspects implied therein.
New jobs will go hand in hand with technological innovations. They will shape a new world of work where professionals and managers will need to have their rights protected in an uncertain labour framework where an employment relationship might not even exist.
Calling for better work-life balance and data protection
Measures that protect employees’ health and safety in digitalisation are needed and Eurocadres proposes a right to disconnect. It should also be made clear that video surveillance or geolocation should ensure better security in sensitive contexts, but should not be used for monitoring purposes of employees.
Paula Ruiz Torres, Vice-President of Eurocadres, was lead author of the position following the work of Ute Meyenberg, also Vice-President of Eurocadres, who introduced the background note on the topic in preparation of the event in Paris.