The new employment

Success is the ability to commit to a path in an atmosphere of incomplete, inaccurate, and often contradictory information. There are few places with more conflicting information that the modern world of employment. Consider:

• Unemployment is at record lows, yet the number of people I know who are looking for meaningful work is growing
• Employers increasingly bemoan the unavailability of skilled workers, yet I keep running into skilled and experienced workers looking for work
• The gig economy is supposed to provide “employment on demand” yet many professionals report low-costs sites providing inferior products that undercut their rates
• Despite headline-grabbing economic performance, an increasing number of families find it increasingly difficult to make ends meet

Untangling the changes in what it means to work, have a career, and make a living in the modern world is a Gordian task. Yet making sense and finding a path is critical to professional success and security.

It all changed – slowly

There was a time in the not-distant path when employment was a long-term relationship. One of the consequences of long employment tenures was that employers could afford to invest in employees’ early careers by paying them wages greater than the value produced and providing high-quality training. As their careers progressed, these employees contribution to corporate revenues grew faster than their compensation.

Many forces have conspired to alter the traditional employment relationship including:

• Job tenures have dropped and continue to do so
• An increasing volume of work is being transferred from permanent employees to contract relationships
• The gig economy and everything-as-a-service world puts additional downward pressure on traditional employment
• The shelf-life of valuable skills is decreasing
• The cost of traditional is increasing as its value in the marketplace is decreasing

The path to getting more

Clearly, we live in a different world. Despite frequent fond recollections of “the good old days” it’s unlikely that the path to productivity is paved with nostalgia.

I often remind clients that everyone – including employers and employees – gets the relationship they deserve. As Louise Sawyer put it, “You get what you settle for”. From employers to employees, W-2s to 1099s, what actions are you taking to deserve better employment relationships?