Work in the time of Coronavirus
Introduction
2020 was not supposed to be like this! COVID-19 has changed the way we view the world — socially, economically and politically. In every way, our understanding of the workplace, and of work itself, is altered beyond recognition.
We stand at a crossroads in our understanding of the future of work. What are the possible outcomes during and after the pandemic? What will workplaces look like? Who will be employed and who will be unemployed? In what kind of society?
The Centre for Workforce Futures dedicates this page to ideas and research into these and other vexed questions. Follow the links to other pages and other sites focused on the topics that affect us all — the nature of work before, during and after the crisis.
Resources
Australian Collaborative Education Network (ACEN)
The Australian Collaborative Education Network (ACEN) which is the peak body for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) has a web page that has been very useful to people working around work-based learning
Survey: COVID-19 — The Voice of the Crowd
Work from home amidst COVID-19 is no experiment. It's a reality that each of us is dealing with every day. We can adjust to it faster by learning from each other. That’s where you come in. Take this 5 minute survey. We will run it through a breakthrough technology that uses neural networks to read your answers, then ‘map’ them alongside the responses of others.
News
28 May
Associate Professor Sarah Kaine, What COVID-19 means for the people making your clothes
Jack Needham, Monitoring of office workers is set to increase in the post-COVID-19 workplace
23 May
Professor Lucy Taksa, How the coronavirus pandemic will change the way we work
19 May
In the latest Centre for Workforce Futures’ Critical Issues Discussion Paper, Professor Daryll Hull, Dr Troy Sarina and Professor Lucy Taksa argue for a fundamental shift in how work is valued in No going (snap) back: Moving forward to a New Accord
8 May
David Peetz, We should simplify our industrial relations system, but not in the way big business wants
6 May
Dominic Powell, ‘A slippery slope’: Bunnings boss calls for industrial relations scrutiny
Dr Sarah Bankins (researcher), COVID-19 may change workplace models forever (podcast)
5 May
Associate Professor Yvette Blount, Is the work from home honeymoon over?
28 Apr
Dr Sarah Bankins (researcher), The coronavirus has changed work forever
Dr Parth Patel, Industry 4.0: how HR can prepare for the future of work during uncertain times
27 Apr
Professor Debbie Haski-Leventhal, Seven positive outcomes of COVID-19
26 Apr
Professor Nick Parr provided comment to the Sydney Morning Herald about predicted declines in Sydney's population growth due to COVID-19
24 Apr
Australian Transportation News, Creeping industry optimism on COVID-19 recovery path
21 Apr
Lyn Craig (University of Melbourne), COVID-19 has laid bare how much we value women’s work, and how little we pay for it
20 Apr
Stephen Bartholomeusz, Capitalism under fire as weak firms bailed out in a world without risk
Dave Snowden (Cognitive Edge), COVID-19 & Leadership
19 Apr
Professor Nick Parr provided comment about how COVID-19 is likely to change life in Sydney in A city of homebodies? How coronavirus will change Sydney
18 Apr
Professor Jean-Philippe Deranty was featured in The Australian regarding whether we are approaching a ‘post-work’ world due to the economic and workplace impacts of COVID-19 (subscription required)
14 Apr
Dr Nour Dados and Professor Lucy Taksa highlight the glaring social and gender inequalities in the face of a public health crisis like COVID-19 in Pandemic's economic blow hits women hard
9 Apr
Matthew Taylor (The RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce)), What will the transition to a new normal look like?
7 Apr
History reveals the dangers of adopting war metaphors during the coronavirus crisis, writes Professor Lucy Taksa in Fighting words: how war metaphors can trigger racism
In a Centre for Workforce Futures’ Critical Issues Discussion Paper, Professor Lucy Taksa considers the social impact of COVID-19 in historical context and the dangerous use of war metaphors that can lead to the targetting of ‘visible’ enemies
1 Apr
Juliet Bourke (Deloitte), Taking back control — How to get off the energy sapping (COVID-19 driven) tech runaway train
Dr Troy Sarina contributed to Retool and reboot: How to keep afloat during times of economic crisis
Jason Bello, Shaun Collins, Ralf Dreischmeier, and Ari Libarikian, (McKinsey), Innovating from necessity: The business-building imperative in the current crisis
31 Mar
Dr Troy Sarina was featured on Channel 7 Sunrise and Channel 7 The Latest with advice for people who have lost their jobs due to coronavirus
16 Mar
Associate Professor Yvette Blount discusses Working from home: how managers can make it work for their staff
Publications
- Bowles, Marcus, 2020. New Normal: What happens when the future arrives early?
- Bowles, Marcus, 2020. New Normal Part 2: Rethinking work, skills, and careers: The next 180 days
- Delaporte, Isaure & Peña, Werner, 2020. Working From Home Under COVID-19: Who Is Affected? Evidence From Latin American and Caribbean Countries GLO Discussion Paper Series 528, Global Labor Organization (GLO)
Events
Upcoming events
Past events
22 Apr, 1700–1830 hrs.
NSW Labor Lawyers, Employee Rights in the Age of COVID-19 (online, registration essential)