Future Proof
“As we enter this new
era of work, where
change is the norm
and employees and
customers are
seeking greater
transparency,
organisations must
endeavour to help
every employee be as
good as they can be”
BURNING PLATFORM
In her book The 100 Year Life, Lynda
Gratton argues that the majority of
children born in rich countries today
can expect to live to more than 100.
This increase in life expectancy has
been happening for decades and yet we
continue to structure our lives the way
our parents, or even grandparents, did.
Unless deep-seated social change
occurs, a longer life is a gloomy
prospect, making longevity a curse
rather than a gift. Our current practices
are ill-equipped to cope. We either
cannot afford to retire at the age our
parents did or will have to work for
so long that our mental and physical
fitness, as well as our enthusiasm for
life, could suffer. Individuals, companies
and governments all have a role to
play in ensuring we structure our lives
differently so we can make the most of
a longer life.
Oldest age at which 50% babies born in 2007 are predicted to still be alive:
UK
104
US
103
JAPAN
107
ITALY
104
GERMANY
102
FRANCE 104
CANADA 104
YEARS
is particularly inspired by her work
with the group (“I’d be bereft without
it,” she says).
It is perhaps because of this insight
that she is so keen to point out the
constructive role big business can
play in the future of work. “Rather
than seeing large organisations as
destructive, they should be viewed as
a force for good,” she says.
“They are made up of people like
you and me – and most of us want to
work for corporations that do good.”
While she agrees it’s easy to knock
big businesses – particularly after the
economic crisis – we should ask more
of them. “We produced a world where
climate change, youth unemployment
and global poverty are real problems.
But whose job is it to do something
about it? You can put the onus on
governments, but their agendas are
so short-term focused.”
With youth unemployment, for,
example, Gratton wants to see more
collaboration between big business –
and says it’s already happening.
“In India, businesses have had to
step in to educate young people as
the government hasn’t been able to
do it. The tech industry is vital to
the country’s economic survival, so
IT companies have built curricula
to support millions of teachers in
upskilling future talent. Within sectors
and cross sectors, I’d urge companies
to consider working together to make
a difference.”
Issue 1 - 2017
57