The Coronovirus-19 Pandemic and The Future of Work

Chidimma Ogechukwu Ezeilo; Judith Green-McKenzie

doi:10.1097/JOM.0000000000003107

The Coronovirus-19 Pandemic and The Future of Work

J Occup Environ Med. 2024 Mar 27. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003107. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Chidimma Ogechukwu Ezeilo¹, Judith Green-McKenzie²

Affiliations

¹ Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
² University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Leonard Davis Institute for Health Economics, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

PMID: 38531821
DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003107

Abstract

Introduction: The "Future of Work" refers to workplace modifications projected to occur after pandemics, other large-scale events that affect the health and safety of broad sectors of the workforce, technological advancements, or shifts in the economy. This paper examines the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Future of Work.

Methods: The electronic databases PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus were explored using search terms such as "post-pandemic", "working force" and "future of work" for papers published between 2000 to 2023.

Results: The main characteristics of the future of work modification revealed are blurring of work-home boundaries, increase in telework and the gig economy, demand for artificial intelligence, smart-working, quiet hiring, diversity and inclusion, and algocratic governance. Needed skills include virtual collaboration capability, cross-cultural-competency, computational thinking, news media literacy, trans-disciplinarity, sense-making, and focusing on mental health and well-being.

Conclusion: Organizations are remodeling workforces to meet employee, employer, regulatory and market expectations to adapt to future workplace needs.