Technology and the real future of work

Every June in the booming “Hipster-Ville” of Brooklyn, New York, an innovative 5-day event called Northside Festival takes place exploring the latest advances in tech, marketing, music, content, politics, etc. (the list goes on and on…). Some even call it the South by Southwest of NYC. Havas People New York had the chance to attend some of the talks, keynotes and networking events throughout the week to learn about emerging tech and media innovations that we could use to improve upon and grow our services. In this 3-part blog series, we’ll summarize the most beneficial takeaways in talent marketing and today’s job market.

First up – a discussion entitled “Tech Policy and Shaping the Workforce of the Future,” featuring speakers from Airbnb, Tech.NYC and Perkins Coie. In a world where freelancers and contract workers are the thriving power of our workforce (35% of U.S. workers*) we have to question what affect this will have on company structures, recruitment practices and our job market. Many employer brands are built with emphasis of growing with a company long-term; steady benefits, corporate community and career development are all pretty big sells. But we have to acknowledge that soon these key values behind an employer brand will change. Organizations will have to update their brand pillars and values to reflect what this new, independent workforce wants: Flexibility, remote opportunities, progressive restructuring etc. These workers will be looking for jobs with companies that are reputable and unified, but still sustainable for short-term or part-time employees.

So what does this freelance-sustaining company look like exactly? For one, their benefits will be portable – imagine a plan tied directly to an employee, NOT their employer. The company will most likely be tied to a modernized union that can bargain and provide new forms of training, wages and working condition laws – if you’ve never heard of Freelancers Union, definitely give their site a quick skim-through. And the trend of freelance-recruitment platforms and co-working spaces will adjust to have stronger partnerships with companies who need to staff and manage their independent workforce. Some are already ahead of the curve, with companies like Spotify and Microsoft renting out space at WeWork offices for certain teams and contingent workers.
Companies won’t be the only ones who have to adapt, so let’s shift gears to focus on these freelance workers a bit. Another talk at the festival featured Kathryn Minshew, co-founder of The Muse and author of The New Rules of Work – a highly recommended read to help you navigate your profession in this ever-changing job market. The weird truth is that traditional “career paths” and planning will die out and people will have the autonomy to pursue temporary jobs focused on skill development. Minshew, however, says there is one part of work that won’t be changing anytime soon… networking. For the first year of The Muse’s life, she says she would do 5 to 8 networking events a week. These events and talent-matching platforms (i.e. Contently) will be the key to success for any freelancer in this economy.
Don’t fret just yet though… the rise of the freelancer is a slow and steady train that is gaining momentum, but still has a long journey ahead. In the next several years, companies should consider revising their brands and policies to be freelance-friendly, and workers should be aware of the benefits of how their roles could become contingent in the future. The freelance boom is coming. It’s coming to liberate all of the creators, disrupters, designers, and go-getters. Get excited, and get ready.
Kelsey Lyon, Account Executive

* Freelancing in America: 2016 survey, released by Freelancers Union in October 2016.