4 ways work is changing in 2023

April 7, 2023 12:00 PM

How we work has rapidly evolved since the start of the pandemic three years ago, and employers and employees are still experimenting with their best practices.

Whether it's through hybrid work schedules — and the benefits and perks that make that arrangement functional — to employees juggling multiple roles at a time, there's no such thing as one way to work. At EY, they're keeping hybrid work optional as a way to empower workers to engage with each other in person, and avoid the damage done when employees lose their agency around work.

"We want to try and empower people, not control them," says Frank Giampietro, chief well-being officer at EY. "We consistently get folks who say, 'I didn't think I had any reason to have to come in and be with my team. I was getting my work done just fine. I had no idea what I was missing out on until I experienced it.' That is really our philosophy: Give people the opportunity to experience it, and then let the experience speak for itself."

Flexibility is especially important for 'polyworkers' — those who work more than one job at a time. Because of financial pressures, more workers are looking for side gigs to supplement their regular work, and this trend is only expected to grow in the coming years.

Of course, technology plays a massive role in supporting employees, but could also be putting their jobs at risk. What does AI and the buzzed-about ChatGPT mean for the future of the workplace? Read on for more insight into how the work world is continuing to find its equilibrium.

Empower, not control': How EY gets employees excited about hybrid work

EY has been experimenting with the right mix of benefits and culture to make hybrid work appealing for their employees. The company provided employees with an $800 stipend to cover lifestyle shifts like commuting costs or caregiving needs, and has continued to make hybrid work optional, so employees feel more engaged when they arrive at the office.

"When we're doing heads-down, focused work, that's great stuff to do at home," Giampietro says. "But when we're trying to build connections, we're trying to build mentorship, we're trying to learn from each other, those are great things to do in person."

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Empower, not control': How EY gets employees excited about hybrid work

The rise of 'polywork': 40% of employees have more than one job

A recent study conducted by payroll services company Paychex found that 40% of respondents hold two jobs and around one-third juggle up to three or more. Nearly half of Americans plan to work their multiple jobs for more than three years. While not a new trend, these "polyworkers" may be responding to recent economic and social shifts.

"Inflation and the cost of living have played a major role in the rise of polywork," says Marsha Akpodiete, an HR coach at Paychex. "The flexibility and freedom of the polywork lifestyle can be too good for many to pass up, and quitting it could result in hardships like having to relocate or struggling to keep up with the economy."

Is your manager trying to replace you with AI?

As artificial intelligence chatbots like ChatGPT take hold of the workplace, employers and employees alike are questioning the future of business — namely, whether AI will serve as a tool for workers, or as their replacement. AI software company Beautiful.ai found that 66% of managers say they would gladly replace employees with AI tools if AI could produce comparable work. And while AI is not advanced enough to replace human labor, this survey result points to the pressure managers may feel in the face of inflation, layoffs and a looming recession, explains Sam Radbil, a research strategist at Beautiful.ai.

"We view AI tools as accommodations and enhancements for workers rather than replacements," says Radbil. "But it's a sign of the economic times that managers view AI as a savings opportunity, and want to use AI instead of paying employees."

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Is your manager trying to replace you with AI?

10 states with the most career opportunities

After three years of economic whiplash brought on by the pandemic, employees are eager to take advantage of a promising job market and settle into a role and organization that will support their needs and aspirations. But where to start the search?

Education platform Scholaroo recently tapped into job and economic data to rank the states with the most promising career opportunities, based on job market, affordability, the state's economy, quality of life, and business friendliness. Colorado, Vermont and Texas rounded out the ranking's top three states with the best career prospects. All three scored particularly high in state economy, quality of life and affordability. Massachusetts made it into the top 10 based primarily on a bustling job market.

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10 states with the most career opportunities