Why Work Tech Advisor Josh Drean Believes Employment Is Dead
On this episode of Redefining Work, I’m joined by Josh Drean, work tech advisor, co-founder of the Work3 Institute and author of the upcoming book “Employment Is Dead” to discuss disruptive technologies and the future of employment models.
Josh has spent his career at the intersection of emerging tech, HR and all things people. His mission at the Work3 Institute is to “marry Web3 technologies with workforce strategies,” and he spends much of his time studying how disruptive technologies affect the ways we work.
Listen in to hear Josh’s predictions for how work will evolve over the next five to 10 years and what you can do to prepare your organization for this future.
You can also listen/share the episode directly syndicated on any of these channels: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts
Leave Behind Outdated Employment Structures
"We are using outdated models for work that no longer serve us," Josh says. “And when you really peel that back, you start to see that, yes, these models served us very well in the industrial age, but it's not working for us today.”
Younger generations have completely different expectations of work — and so far, most organizations haven’t delivered. “We are fully unprepared to engage that generation,” Josh says, “a generation that pushes back on inefficiencies, that won't do work unless they know why it's important or knowing what role they play in that." Younger workers want flexibility and fulfillment, not rigid employment models. Moreover, climbing the corporate ladder isn’t their top priority.
One example of this power struggle is companies’ return-to-office push. Josh believes we need new decentralized models, like workforce ecosystems that develop partnerships, rather than top-down employment. He advocates moving away from the transactional model of "I pay you a certain amount of money, you give me a certain amount of hours." Instead, track employee fulfillment, not just productivity.
“We need to embrace workforce ecosystems that not only help the individual but also greatly impact the company,” he says. Decentralization is the path forward.
Embrace the Exhilarating Possibilities of AI
AI’s impact on work can seem as frightening as it is exciting, but Josh sees generative AI as a positive, with tremendous potential to transform jobs and tasks. This transition has already begun in many organizations. “I think there's going to be a moment when AI says, ‘Look, I got this, you go sit on a beach, or do whatever you want to do,’” he says.
Josh already sees AI augmenting his work, “and now I have active conversations on ChatGPT on a daily basis to help me do my job." Algorithms are advancing to the point where we can train models to think like we do — and make decisions on our behalf.
While there are legitimate concerns about AI, Josh argues we should focus on learning the technology and how it could affect the nature of work. “It will do a lot of the autonomous, repetitive work that you don't want to do so you can spend more time doing what really matters,” he says. “And that is how HR is going to change.”
Imagine a Future of Immersive Experiences
AI isn’t the only transformative technology in the world of work. By 2030, Josh anticipates work will become immersed in virtual and digital experiences. This is already happening in gaming, where younger generations are socializing and finding opportunities in online virtual worlds.
Josh says his son prefers to play games with friends online rather than in person because they find digital worlds to be more fun and immersive. This model suggests opportunities for employers with their employees, especially younger generations. “They don't have to sit at a desk. … They can walk into an immersive world, they can tinker and they can try new things, and they can be creative on their own,” he says. “We've already seen that developed in these games.”
He envisions a time where "everyone is going to be working digitally" through virtual worlds — redefining what it means to connect, commute and experience work.
People in This Episode
Watch the Full Episode Below
