Demonstrating Job Performance
In the contemporary workforce, the concept of employment has expanded exponentially, prompting the Young Workers' Lab to investigate what constitutes 'work' in the digital age. The inquiry encompasses a multitude of aspects, such as the time spent managing emails during off-work hours, or the unacknowledged labor of click workers, freelancers, and courier riders waiting for assignments.
Moreover, the question extends to the boundaries between work and personal life for those engaged in gig economy occupations, such as home-care workers who commute extensively, or those trapped in traffic jams between clients. The line between 'work' and 'personal' time has become increasingly blurred, necessitating a fresh perspective on the work-life balance today.
Young workers across various sectors are confronted with questionable working conditions, with warehouse employees, for instance, enduring insufficient breaks and pressing targets dictated by algorithms. Archaeologists working long stints away from home have reported workplace harassment, while bankers, insurance workers, and call center staff are subject to meticulous monitoring of their keystrokes and conversations.
However, current strategies employed by unions to combat these issues primarily rely on anecdotal evidence. While these narratives can evoke empathy, they seldom lead to tangible reform.
The aim of the Young Workers Lab is to bridge this gap by equipping unions with the necessary knowledge, best practices, and digital tools to systematically collect and manage irrefutable evidence about their members' working lives. By leveraging responsible AI and developing a custom app, they hope to strengthen the union's case against irresponsible employers and push for improved working conditions.
- The Young Workers' Lab is actively investigating how traditional concepts like 'business', 'science', and 'workplace-wellness' intersect with 'health-and-wellness' and 'lifestyle' in the digital age, focusing on issues such as work-life balance and the impact of technology on workers' wellbeing.
- In an effort to address controversial work practices and improve 'health-and-wellness' in the workforce, the Young Workers' Lab plans to employ 'responsible AI' and develop a custom app that will help unions gather solid evidence about their members' working lives, potentially leading to reforms based on irrefutable data rather than anecdotal evidence.
