we are posing the question this month ‘What is the future of work after Covid-19?’. Siptu economist Michael Taft makes the case that this is a good time to reconsider how workers are treated.
The pandemic has highlighted a growing understanding of the world of work. Clearly, there is a greater appreciation of the work performed by people in sectors such as health, retail, waste, transport and the gig economy. Work that was unseen or unrecognised prior to the pandemic has now come into full view.
However, it is vital that we don’t merely react to new or emerging trends on an ad hoc basis. We need to think about this and plan what comes next. The future of a fair and progressive workplace will revolve around three pillars: stakeholder planning, a new social contract, and respect and security in the workplace.