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The Future of Work
Our work defines who we are and propels the human race forward, but what’s coming next? Scott Latham, Ph.D. explores what work is becoming, how it’s shaping our identities, and how human contact, innovation, productivity, and remote working all shape how tomorrow’s work gets done. Companies are adapting, employees are working anywhere, manufacturers are using automation and augmented reality to stay competitive. Some things will change because of the pandemic, but some of these larger shifts were already in motion — they have just been accelerated.
The Proximity & Creativity Link
Beatles on Zoom wouldn’t be the Beatles we know today. For creativity you have to be in the studio, the lab, the makerspace. There is an importance to proximity and creativity.
Adapting to a New Environment
COVID-19 forced a lot of companies to adapt, quickly. But, what takes a business from putting stickers on the floor to actually setting plans for a future of remote/remote-optional work.
Not for Everyone
Work from home doesn’t mean work from home for everyone. This social experiment has shown there are groups, mostly marginalized people, who do not and cannot work from home. Scott Latham, Ph.D., explains the ramifications on marginalized groups like women and lower income populations.
"The byproduct of this remote work experiment is it's ramped up the need to monitor the worker. We've lost trust in the worker."

Scott Latham, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Strategy , UMass Lowell Manning School of Business
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