I’m leading the Review of Modern Employment for UK Government and I am determined that the Review will be bold and offer a comprehensive strategy for a better work future.
I decided early on that tackling exploitation, confusion and perverse incentives in work would only be likely if we all care as much about the quality of employment as about its quantity.
Good work is something the RSA cares about deeply.
We need a good work economy because
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Most people in poverty are already in work.
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Bad work is bad for people’s health and wellbeing
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Bad work is more likely to be low productivity work and thus bad for the economy
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Automation will impact the future of work
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Bad work – with no choice or voice for workers – just feels wrong in 2017
But if good work for all is to become a reality, I need to show that there is strong support in civil society and the wider public for this goal.
The RSA wants you to talk about what good work means to you.
We have a few weeks to persuade whoever wins the next election that good work matters.
Post a video on Facebook or Twitter using #GoodWorkIs to tell us what good work means for you
Or comment below to share your conversation about good work
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Clearly this debate could be looked at from many angles, but one that concerns me is the government perspective. A few years ago an influential figure stated to me that it was not about work life balance or the individuals fulfilment, but more the economic well being work could bring to the country. Obviously a very contentious statement and one that many take offence over! There is a deep divide between those who enjoy a fulfilling work life balance and those who find themselves living to work!
Good work is enjoyable and being happy at what you do while achieving the results that are expected of you to meet the realistic targets that have been set to achieve results and profit within an harmonious and pleasant environment.
Bad work is always being 'busy', grumpy and stressed.
What makes elements of work 'good' is rather subjective and personal, so here is my take:
- where I feel my input is making a difference
- where I have (some) autonomy over how, where and what I tackle
- where I am respected, which may or may not equate to being paid
- where I have the full facts available to make decisions, which depends on trust from and of colleagues
- where I am sufficiently skilled/trained to make the best use of resources, such as tech
To be effective in work, I need a semblance of work/life balance, with sufficient sleep, exercise, time to spend with friends and family, space for volunteering, and ideally a supportive personal relationship. I also need creative outlets, so play in amateur orchestras, and go to theatre, exhibitions and gigs to feed my soul (I know that sounds a bit pretentious, but it's true!). I run my own company, as I couldn't find this when employed.
However, I know I am extremely fortunate - the volunteering is probably akin to survivor guilt - so try to model best practice in our tiny company, by supporting employees through times of personal crisis, paying suppliers before we have to, and generally aiming to do the right thing for our team, our sector, and for wider society. It's not easy, but it's rewarding.
Matthew, the 'good gig' is getting to run such an enquiry. I hope you think it's 'good work'!
The biggest humiliation - the 'worst gig' is unemployment. - unwanted, removed from social contact, loss of self respect. Any work is by comparison 'good gig'. You will have access to a body or work sociology in your Enquiry. The No 1 driver to 'go to work' is 'appreciation' - 'good gig' or 'bad gig' does not come into it.
If this is not the conclusion of your enquiry you'll do no service to society.
I think good work has a sense of purpose to it beyond just earning enough money to 'pay the bills'. I have sometimes felt so aligned with the purpose of why I am doing what I am doing that work no longer feels like work, i.e. you would want to do it even of you weren't being paid. I think the interaction between purposefulness and motivation is spectacularly interesting. I have always been fascinated when, for example, a few truly 'committed to the cause' individuals out-perform larger teams of very often better-resourced competition.
I think the RSA is great put 'good work' on the agenda and is right to challenge the status quo. All too often 'human capital' is seen as a necessary evil where the commercial objective is to minimise the cost of it. Our world of work is riddled with short-term-ism. Key to changing all this will be re framing what good leadership is all about. It will never be 'just about the numbers'. The reality is that every human being is full of latent potential that 'good work' can set free; for the benefit of all, particularly smart employers...