Arguably, technology is one of the most common terms in contemporary society. To most people, the term triggers a mental picture of complex and unthinkable processes used in creating various things for fulfilling our requirements and improving the quality of our lives and experiences. Nothing is far from the truth. Technology denotes an intricate scientific process consisting of techniques, procedures, and skills to achieve a wide range of objectives. Such goals include producing goods and services, conducting a scientific inquiry, or addressing various challenges like hunger, disease, and famine. In simpler terms, technology is the practical use of scientific knowledge and principles in real-life situations. Undeniably, technology has monumental implications on human life. Numerous studies point out technology as a primary element applied across the most notable and successful human endeavors. Equally, research highlights the negative aspects of technology on society. Since technology is multifaceted, generalistic studies offer a superficial understanding of the effects of technology. In this case, it is critical to investigate how it relates to specific contexts. In this light, this paper examines the implications of technology in the American workplace.
A workplace denotes a specific location where an individual or a group of people perform work activities to earn income. In this context, the American workplace describes all the spaces where work activities occur within the United States. Workplaces range from corporate office buildings, home, and remote workplaces and factories. Currently, about 125 milluion people in the U.S are under full time employment.As an industrialized country, the American workplace is crucial due to its interconnectedness with the country’s economy, growth, and prosperity. Additionally, the American workplace is vital because a larger portion of the United States population spends more hours of its life. According to Casio & Montealegre (2016), the American workplace has significantly transformed from the 1960s through developments and innovations made in computing. Such changes are increasingly changed workplace relations and organizational operations. Below are the most notable and beneficial impacts of technology on the American workplace.
- Organizational communication
Undoubtedly, communication is a critical function in any workplace. Before introducing modern communication technology, most firms in the United States relied on traditional methods like physical letters, memos, notices, and newsletters. With such channels, large organizations encountered numerous challenges as communication was slow, ineffective, and disorganized. With the adoption of technology, communication within the American workplace has transformed dramatically. The increasing use of smartphones and social media has made organizational communication fast and more effective (Stitch et al., 2018). Currently, stakeholders in most organizations in the U.S communicate frequently and efficiently via social media platforms like Skype, Zoom, and Whatsapp. Such applications promote seamless communication and quick feedback, which is essential for organizational operations.
Multinational corporations exploit the window created by modern communication technology to enhance communication and foster collaboration among their team members. For instance, Unilever employs various Microsoft applications to connect its global workforce of over 100 000 employees. According to Canedo et al. (2017), traditional organizational communication is processual, time-consuming, and obsolete in the current times. Every team member should communicate using the fastest channel possible to allow quick response and reaction to issues. Alternatively, most organizations in the United States have adopted technologies to promote information security and privacy. Presently, most institutions are safeguarding their information from security breaches and data thefts through encrypted software. Alternatively, through technology, organizations scrutinize employee communication trends in ensuring compliance with policies and reducing information leakages.
- Project management
Previously, managers were overburdened with supervising employees, delegating responsibilities, and reviewing project progress. Under these circumstances, organizations relied heavily on leaders for productivity and success. In recent times, technology has created numerous programs through which managers, employers, and team leaders can efficiently supervise work activities to maximize efficiency, responsibility, and coordination at the workplace. In the United States, most organizations are employing project management software to track the progress of ongoing projects and increase workflow (Song et al., 2019). Additionally, firms are increasingly using project management programs in assessing risks and avoiding losses through strategic planning. Regardless, research points out that managers and team leaders are still vital in organizations as they can offer motivation and more organization-oriented guidance when necessary.
- Efficiency and productivity
As the NAEM (2017) stated, the current American workplace is more productive than ever. Since most employees are conversant with digital technology and modern machinery, organizational processes are increasingly getting faster and more efficient. With project management software and other mechanisms, workplace processes now take lesser time than in previous decades. Since poor time management reduces productivity, technology allows more employees in the American workplace to conserve time, perform tasks more efficiently and meet deadlines.
- Organizational culture
Traditionally, organizations used salaries, promotions, and other objective career outcomes to attract and retain employees. Besides, firms trained employees to acquire organization-specific knowledge and skills. With globalization and technology, this situation dramatically changed as employees possessed more marketable and transferrable skills and knowledge. These employees were; later recognized as protean workers. Due to technology, the psychological contract between organizations and workers has changed drastically. Presently, since workers can work remotely, organizations have abandoned the traditional organizational structures which require employees to report to work physically.
Alternatively, technology and modernity have greatly influenced organizational formalities, which dictate workplace dress codes. According to recent research, most firms in the United States no longer require their team members to dress formally within the working environment. Currently, more than 50% of U.S companies allow their employees to dress casually, with only a quarter maintaining the traditional formal dress code consisting of blouses and skirts and suits and ties.
Presently, most firms in the United States have online platforms where interested individuals can apply for various vacancies and positions in the organization. For instance, seeking employment at Coca-Cola goes through a rigorous online recruitment procedure comprising phone call interviews and video interviews (Hughes et al., 2019). The increasing use of modern technology in recruitment and selection is a significant move towards equity and accountability. Besides, it is now easier for potential employees to seek employment beyond their residences, communities, and countries.
- Emergence of Gig Economy
Currently, a considerable portion of workers in the United States is freelancers, handling multiple jobs concurrently. This phenomenon(popularly known as the gig economy) is increasingly getting popular, with studies indicating that it accounts for more than 30% of the U.S workforce. Within this framework, organizations are hiring and paying employees through online channels like Gusto (Healy et al., 2017).
- Remote working
Although most employees in the United States report physically to their workplaces, a significant portion works remotely. Previously, such a situation was impossible. However, through technology, workers can work from home, shared workspaces, and interact through teleconferencing and other mechanisms. Currently, statistics indicate that about 21% of the employees in the U.S are working remotely. With increasing technology and the global COVID-19 pandemic, these figures will significantly increase within the next five years to 25% (Venkatesh, 2020).
Regardless of how technology has transformed and benefited the American workplace, studies have pointed out several downsides stemming from increased technology induction within organizations. The most notable aspects are as discussed below.
- Declining employment opportunities.
According to McClure (2018), a significant portion of firms in the united states are altering hiring patterns according to technological changes. In this sense, jobs requiring employees to have specific skills are currently declining as computers and machines perform such tasks more efficiently than humans. Although technology has no direct relationship with the current high unemployment rate in the United States, it is one of the leading causes of structural unemployment. Alternatively, the increasing online recruitment trends reduce employment opportunities for domestic workers who are currently facing stiff competition from other candidates drawn from across the world.
- Increased work attachment
Remote working is among the most significant impacts of technology in the American workplace. Although most employees would prefer to work remotely, the reality of this possibility is surprisingly grim. According to recent studies, employees working from home and other remote settings work for more hours, days, and even when they are unwell. Armed with computers and other devices at their disposal, remotely working employees stay in constant touch with work and rarely relax or detach from work-related activities. Due to this situation, most remotely working employees are highly vulnerable to emotional distress, burnout, eating disorders, sleeping problems, and psychological disorders (Bondanini et al., 2020).
- Unequal remuneration patterns
Although technology has immensely benefited the American workplace, payment trends are not matching the productivity and efficiency witnessed across most sectors. Even with employees performing more intricate tasks, most feel that the situation has not changed as their earnings have only reduced due to the rising cost of living, taxation, and other factors. With the current state of affairs, most employees in the United States are working multiple jobs and operating a small business to increase their income. This situation increases anxiety concerning the future of the American workplace, with most employees fearing to lose employment as organizations embrace technology and innovation.
Conclusion
While technology has projected numerous impacts on the American workplace, such effects are both beneficial and detrimental. Observably, the benefits of the technology exceedingly overlap the downsides. Although the technological changes may be significant, it is crucial to note that they are not permanent. In this case, the present technologies may soon give in or become obsolete to other innovations soon. In these circumstances, organizations must remain fluid and accommodate the inevitable changes stemming from technology. As organizations adopt new technology, they should carefully consider the welfare of the employees, along with the risks involved with implementing such innovations. To reduce the challenges stemming from working remotely, employees should adopt healthy lifestyles. Alternatively, organizations should use technology to safeguard the welfare of their employees. For instance, management can use emails, teleconferencing, social media, and other channels to interact with employees on non-work-related matters.
Reference
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