Article by Charles Handy on the increasing lack of security for employees in organizations, and how both workers and organizations need to understand this reality for the future of business. Handy explains how, in the twentieth century, one's work or professional organization became the reason not only for one's livelihood but, aside from family, one's primary community, responsible for collecting the bulk of taxes, providing financial security and training for work, time for recreation and rest, and protection from dangerous or unhealthy work. However, Handy notes that over the last decade, the nature of work has changed. The first thing significant change he has identified is that jobs and economic growth have become disentangled, and technology has resulted in endless job growth. Such developments have led to the second change, the dramatic reduction in full-time jobs because of increased job market flexibility. This has led to a third change, namely an altered expectation of retirement that differs from previous generations, and has resulted in the need to continue working in retirement age doing “portfolio” work. Alongside the increase of automated factory work, Handy contends that these changes have left society with more responsibility for making appropriate, individual labor choices, and made security a personal, rather than organizational, responsibility.
Article by Charles Handy on the increasing lack of security for employees in organizations, and how both workers and organizations need to understand this reality for the future of business, November 22, 1999; Charles Handy Papers; Box 15, Folder 4; 2 pages
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