Category: Future of Work

NationSwell Council member Shalin Jyotishi has spent his career advancing solutions at the intersection of workforce, education, and tech. The NationSwell team recently had the opportunity to speak with Jyotishi about the global coalition he’s building through his work at the World Economic Forum, the “downstream impacts” of technological innovations, and how tech can improve the lives of workers.

NationSwell: Congratulations on your new fellowship at the World Economic Forum! Can you talk a bit about the work you’ve done throughout your career, and how it’s informing the work you’re leading now?

Shalin Jyotishi: Thank you! My mission is to help leaders from colleges and universities, companies, and governments solve complex problems where education meets the workforce and where both topics meets scientific and technological innovation as well as public policy. 

I first worked “upstream” in science and technology policy both domestically and internationally with a focus on technological innovation, asking questions like, “Why do governments fund R&D? What’s the best way to fund R&D so society benefits the most? What do optimal public-private sector collaborations look like in R&D? How does R&D translate into technology-based economic development, entrepreneurship, technology transfer, job creation, and workforce development?”

Then, I moved to “midstream” in the technological innovation continium. At the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, I worked with executives from nearly all public research universities in North America to help improve the role of our public universities in maximzing the economic and societal benefits of those government R&D investments – whether it be through talent and workforce development, innovation and entrepreneurship, or or public and community engagement in science.  

These days, my work focuses on the “downstream” impacts of technological innovation. 

At New America, I’m focused on the future of learning and work relating to the innovation economy with a focus on community colleges and new models for career preparation. 

At the World Economic Forum, I’m focused on how employers are responding to emerging technologies entering their workplace, and how workplace technologies can be a “win-win” for employers and employees.

For example, last year, my colleagues and I produced a white paper on the state of play for AI-based tools for HR professionals which laid the foundation for the project I’m leading as a Fellow. My project is focused on empowering companies and their partners to ensure that workplace tech is a “win-win” for employers and employees. 

NationSwell: COVID-19 has completely disrupted the workforce, accelerating us into the future as it exacerbates present-day inequities. Can you talk about the potential you’re seeing in this moment for how tech can improve the lives of workers?

Even before the pandemic, a Gartner study revealed that 50% of surveyed large employers were using nontraditional monitoring techniques which accelerated in the pandemic era as businesses sought to track worker engagement remotely.

Algorithmic management in warehouses and call centers has made work more stressful, grueling, and dangerous. Such technologies have eroded worker privacy, autonomy, and civil liberties.  

However, simple and advanced technologies also nearly singlehandedly carried the world through the height of the pandemic, maintaining and, in some cases, expanding work opportunities, ushering in a new normal for work-life balance enabled by flexible work arrangements for workers of all socioeconomic statuses. 

Workplace technologies can make jobs better or worse. We want to ensure that the former scenario to happen, and we believe now is the optimal time to focus on this issue. 

On one hand there are the labor market conditions: In the United States, the tight labor markets, the national racial reckoning, the flexible work movement, greater attention paid to essential workers and working conditions in general, a new wave of unionization are all well timed with the maturation of a number of workplace technologies rooted in technologies like AI, Internet of Things, and advanced robotics. 

We need to align the conversations of employer competitiveness enabled by technology with that of advancing job quality. Many people want a different world of work than the one we inherited or even shaped before the pandemic.

For technology optimists, this project is an opportunity to clarify the positive impact of workplace tech on employers and workers For technology pessimists, this project is an opportunity to mitigate the negative risks around workplace tech for employers and workers.

While workplace tech may not always be able to improve pay, which to most workers is the most important aspect of job quality, We will be looking at how workplace technologies can improve a number of working condition aspects including: safety; schedule predictability, regularity, and flexibility; non-discrimination and support for disabled workers; employee voice and input; job design; meaningfulness and social value; and career security and growth , such as training and advancement opportunities whether internal or external.

We will be emphasizing how employers can co-design workplace technology implementation strategies with their employees, giving them a say in which technologies are adopted and how. 

NationSwell: What’s your call to action for people reading this profile?

We have brought together a diverse global coalition of business, labor, government, academia, philanthropy, and civil society to address this challenging topic. We will be doing a lot of storytelling and research over the next year.

Please get in touch with me if you would like to contribute. Below are a few examples for each of our constituent groups. Of course, all ideas are welcome. 

• Employers, technology vendors, and associations: Share stories and case studies of how you have adopted workplace technologies that have led to a “win-win” for workers and the company. 
• Labor groups and worker voice entities: Share stories and case studies of how you have enabled workers to co-create workplace technology implementation strategies alongside employers. 
• Policymakers and stakeholders: Get in touch on enacted or proposed policy solutions or even ideas to help ensure that the “win-win” scenario for workplace scenarios is actionable.
• Academics, think-tanks, philanthropy and civil society: Share your research around how workplace technologies can lead to a “win-win” scenario for employers and employees.

To learn more about the NationSwell Council, visit our hub.

A mass exodus from jobs fueled by burnout, compensation, competition, and turnover have created previously unthinkable situations for employers, with many now scrambling to retain the talent they have on hand.

But amidst all the chaos is a pivotal moment, and a question: What types of structures, policies and treatments would we like to see in our workplaces going forward, and how can we use this opportunity to shape the future of work for decades to come?

In the hopes of getting answers to those questions and more, NationSwell Council member Lydia Loizides, president and founder of Talentedly, started a body of work in 2021, in collaboration with the NationSwell Council that has grown as the future of work rapidly evolves. Lydia has run surveys with leaders from the NationSwell Council two years in a row, followed most recently by a conversation on May 25th with NationSwell’s community of cross-sector and cross-industry leaders. 

During our May 25 working group, members reviewed the results of the 122 organizations and leaders who responded to the 2022 survey and discussed what workers should be advocating for in service of creating happier, hybrid, and holistic workplaces– and how employers can anticipate what will attract and retain talent in an increasingly competitive market.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the survey and resulting discussion.

Employers are already offering flexible work schedules, but what workers want most is better compensation.

Over 76% of respondents said that their employers had begun offering remote work possibilities as a benefit to increase job satisfaction, and the same percentage said that employers had also worked to improve their communication strategies in order to better communicate the company’s vision, business strategy and more. But when asked which benefits they thought employees should be offering to help employees cope during the pandemic, 46.7% of respondents said better compensation — something only about half of respondents said their company was already offering.

A surprising number of respondents said that their employers were already engaging in “open hiring” practices

Of those surveyed, 36 respondents said that their company was already utilizing “open hiring” — an inclusive recruiting method whereby prospective employees add their name to a list rather than submitting a traditional resume and cover letter. Crucially, open hiring models also omit the background checks and interviews that other companies usually require, eliminating critical points where human bias and discrimination can typical seep into the hiring process.

Most respondents agreed that employers should provide low or no cost access to formal education.

Of the respondents surveyed, 55% said that they believed that employers should provide at least some form of educational access to employees. Certain companies have already modeled how this might be possible: Starbucks, for example, offers employees the option to enroll in the Starbucks College Achievement Plan (SCAP), which enables U.S. employees the opportunity to earn their first-time bachelor’s degree with the company paying for 100% of their tuition.

With high schools currently suffering massive dropout rates as a result of the pandemic, the ability to recapture workers into non-traditional education pipelines will likely become an increasingly critical point of discussion.

Burnout is still affecting employees’ willingness to stay at their jobs — but there’s a catch

Although pandemic-induced feelings of burnout and overwhelm are still dogging workers and fueling high turnover rates, those rates are often influenced by workers having a positive outlook and also perceiving their employer as being an active listener, their turnover intention goes down and they are more likely to be collaborative organizationally.

Job credentialing needs a facelift

Responses to a question about whether non-college credentials were just as valuable to their employers as a college degree were scattershot, suggesting that a very specific perception of education as it relates to capability in the workforce still exists.

There was, however, a strong agreement among respondents that certain skills, including critical thinking and adaptability, tend to be more important than certain hard skills in ensuring day-to-day success on the job.

The perception of the biggest threats to job security over the next 25 years include education, automation, and public policy.

When asked what they believed the biggest threats to job security would be in five years vs. 25 years, respondents included post-secondary and K-12 education, AI automation and technology, and public policy — particularly as it relates to the urban/rural divide.

The NationSwell Council community brings together a diverse, curated community of bold individuals and organizations leading the way in social, economic, and environmental problem-solving. Learn more about the Council here.

According to a brief released by the World Health Organization, incidences of anxiety and depression have rocketed up 25% globally, an increase which can largely be attributed to the unprecedented stress, social isolation, and logistical barriers to mental health resources caused by the pandemic.

Remote work and learning have presented their own set of challenges, particularly around caregiving and productivity, and feelings of overwhelm and emotional exhaustion have intensified apace. It’s no wonder that so many of us are struggling with unprecedented levels of burnout that have left us feeling unmotivated, overworked, and directionless.

In an effort to offer support, surface insights, and encourage solutions-sharing, NationSwell Council members met for a five-part event series over the course of two months that aimed to shed light on the unique ways burnout has impacted leaders and team members of different cohorts: single parents, leaders of color, educators, healthcare workers, nonprofit leaders, and the CEOs and founders of companies.

In observation of Mental Health Awareness month, we are sharing some of the most compelling, actionable insights and learnings from this series.

Carving out intentional spaces for joy can be a radical act in a society that constantly demands more of us:

While our society tends to put a premium on productivity and “hustle culture,” being prepared to do the work for the long haul must necessarily involve some self-sustaining practices — such as carving out dedicated time and space for joy.

If burnout is, by definition, a sort of mental and physical collapse, then mitigation tactics won’t be enough to combat its spread; we’ll also need to go on the offensive, prioritizing our mental and physical health in more deliberate ways. One way to do that is to be more conscious about reminding ourselves that we have a right to wellness, and that something as simple as prioritizing joy is not a waste of time or a drain on productivity.

“Joy helps connect us to the bigger purpose and reminds us that this fight has been around for generations — our generation can only do so much,” one member said. “Without joy, the fight can become toxic — we can become toxic — if we don’t remember that what we’re really fighting for is the chance for future generations to experience joy.”

Addressing burnout must include concrete policies that address historic and systemic inequities:

In the summer of 2020, people around the U.S. flocked to the streets to protest the murder of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, at the hands of police. The demonstrations were an example of how trauma can compound — and how, even as the pandemic has worn on, the politics of education, DEI, the pushback against critical race theory, and many, many more social factors have wound up fueling burnout.

During our session for leaders of color, members expressed skepticism about the usefulness of coaching and resilience training, which is often implemented in workplaces specifically as a way for BIPOC to deal with burnout.
“It raises the question of what resilience is — I can pull my bootstraps up if I need to, but that might not be the thing that helps me to grow and thrive in this environment,” one member said.

Members stressed the need for systemic changes over superficial programs, including corporate advocacy for the expansion of voting rights, more diverse hiring practices, and promoting and hiring more BIPOC employees into leadership roles.

Working parents are feeling the stresses of the pandemic — but their workplaces can actually be a bulwark against burnout.

During the huddle for working parents, members relayed the particular challenges they’d faced in being suddenly thrust into an environment where they had to perform what essentially amounted to two jobs: full-time caregiving and their careers.

“Especially during the pandemic, I just realized I just couldn’t do the things I used to be able to do,” one member said. “I had carefully constructed this web of caregivers and neighbors, and that all went away in the course of two weeks. I was so struck by the fact that I had these resources in terms of dollars, flexibility at work, a network of support, time, and I still couldn’t figure out a way to make my life work in the same way that it had before.”

Members in each group stressed the rising numbers of single parents entering the workforce, and said that employers on the whole need to be more conscientious about creating a destigmatized work environment that offers dedicated resources for parents, including flexible work hours and advocacy for universal childcare programs, like the plan for free, high-quality pre-K outlined in the Democrats’ Build Back Better Act.

Workplaces need to put the same premium on mental health benefits that they do on physical health programs.

Many members said that the pandemic highlighted the need for more dedicated mental health resources in the workplace, and said that the creation of such tools would facilitate a better workflow for preventing burnout.

Letting your team know that you prioritize mental health, and modeling that mental health as well, can be an actionable way to make others feel less isolated and more advocated for. Some mental health resources that were recommended include: workshops to address depression; stress management seminars that teach techniques such as mindfulness and breathing exercises; more flexible policies around working hours and paid leave; and affinity groups that provide teams with a sense of community and understanding.

Tweaking how we think about work won’t be enough — it’s time for a massive overhaul.

The concept of the 9 – 5 workday might have been widely accepted in the time before Covid, but the advent of remote work and a rapidly shifting social landscape, among other things, have necessitated a closer look at the old way of doing things.

From radically transformed caregiving expectations to the elimination of the morning commute, the workday just doesn’t progress the same way it used to. Many members argued that the implementation of new technologies make it easier than ever to get work done on a more flexible schedule — which companies should sign on to if they want employees who are happier and more productive.

“I may not be here from 9-5 every day, but if you know I’m doing good work and I’m going to get it done, that shouldn’t matter,” one member said. “We’re all better when we can show up to work and be present.”

To combat ‘founder burnout,’ don’t innovate: anchor yourself in the ordinary.

Members in our sessions for nonprofit leaders and founders in particular discussed ‘founder burnout’: the real and widespread phenomenon that sees leaders feel the need to take care of everyone and cater to the interests of multiple constituents at once, often at the expense of their own mental health.

“From a founder perspective it’s not the ridiculous hours that get me, it’s the fact that [work] is just always in my head,” one member said.

For nonprofit leaders, it can sometimes feel like the ‘work can’t wait,’ or that taking time to slow down inherently comes at the expense of vulnerable and underserved communities.

In order to combat feelings of overwhelm, nonprofit leaders advocated for “little moments of ordinariness” — sharing a piece of music during staff calls, or requests to drop whatever is on team members’ minds that day into the chat.

“Instead of this all-or-nothing approach, trying to find a middle path where we know that there’s this emotional charge pulling at us, but we also know we’re going to operate on both ends of the spectrum,” one member said.

Mental health is physical health — which means physical self-care can help.

A critical way to mitigate burnout is to pay attention to the ways it shows up in the body. Just like any other type of stress or anxiety, feelings of overwhelm can manifest as physical sensations, and taking the time to properly address these symptoms can help us to get a handle on our discomfort.

Going for a walk or a run, taking a long bath, and even giving or receiving hugs are all ways to physically tend to ourselves in order to reduce the effects of burnout. Similarly, techniques like mindfulness and breathwork can help us to maintain composure in the moment rather than taking our stress out on whoever’s nearby.

“Pay attention to what your nervous system is telling you — when I’m super activated, I take 30 seconds to pause before I go into my next interaction,” one member said. “This helps you to acknowledge where you are, to notice when you’re in a heightened state.”

Focusing on your own needs first can actually better prepare you to take care of others in the long run.

The uncertainty of our current moment has created a state of constant emergency, one where the sirens are always blaring and our priorities are always shifting. For some, that need to constantly be pivoting towards putting out different fires has been draining and overwhelming.

“I feel like the entire world keeps changing every 90 days, and I have to keep adapting my organization and strategy around it. It just won’t stop,” one member said. “Every time I think it will, something new happens, and that constant churn has been exhausting.”

In moments of crisis, it’s important to remember the old self-care maxim of ‘putting your own oxygen mask on before helping others’. No matter how quickly you’re rushing to address a problem, if your children, colleagues, friends or community members are getting a frayed version of you, nothing will be addressed comprehensively. The simple act of asking ‘What do I want,” or ‘What do I need right now’ — even if it feels selfish or uncomfortable in the moment — can help you to reclaim your power and stay in control.

The NationSwell Council community brings together a diverse, curated community of bold individuals and organizations leading the way in social, economic, and environmental problem-solving. Learn more about the Council here.

Markle’s call to action is timely: An estimated two million women in the United States reportedly lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic, many of whom are still struggling to regain their footing in a labor market that has been radically transformed. Although men also experienced upheaval during the pandemic, job and income losses disproportionately affected women, according to a policy brief released by the International Labor Organization, partly because they are over-represented in some of the hardest-hit sectors and partly because of their tendency to be the ones performing certain types of unpaid labor, including caregiving. Markle said that she hoped mentoring the women endeavoring to reenter the labor market would create a “ripple effect” across communities and the working world, better positioning them to stand in their power and advance their professional lives.

Inspired by the Duchess of Sussex’s call to action, a NationSwell Council affinity group for gender justice organized a similarly-styled challenge, asking members to donate 40 minutes of their time to support and connect with another working woman on the Council. We followed up afterwards to see how those conversations went — here’s what our members had to say:

Violette de Ayala, founder and CEO of FemCity, said that the majority of her 40×40 conversations centered around balancing both work and life commitments. 

“So many of the women I met made significant shifts in their careers in order to have greater social impact in their communities and in the world… Every conversation was filled with vibes of ‘how do we impact the globe more within our realm and scope of connections and capabilities.’ Collaboration was a key component after each conversation… Within the various titles, organizations, and brands we all run, we had so much in common. It is apparent that we are all humans trying to make the world a better place while finding joy and friendships along the way.”

Stephanie Dodson Cornell, venture partner at Draper Richards Kaplan, said that her conversation was so lovely that the time “flew by”:

“We are going to talk again in a month. I was struck by the strong current of recognition I felt with Alina, despite our very different backgrounds, ages, and experiences.”

Sara Allan, director of early learning and education pathways at the Gates Foundation, said that she quickly realized that the most valuable type of conversation isn’t always work-related:

“We discovered we had immigrated to the US and lived in New York at the same time and share a passion for expanding opportunity for women and other historically disadvantaged groups. We exchanged articles on topics of interest related to supporting young people to thrive and fostering stronger and more diverse executive teams. It was a great connection and I look forward to meeting her in-person at a future Nationswell event.”

Rachel Hutchisson, a current board member at Common Impact and the Blackbaud Giving Fund, said that being matched with another NationSwell member through the 40×40 initiative was, “a moment to remember how wonderful it is to meet someone new without feeling like there was an agenda or goal to accomplish.”  

“I so valued the chance to talk to someone new, to explore intersections, to laugh and to leave feeling emotionally and intellectually fed… We talked about the importance of helping others cultivate their speaking skills and helping them get on stages to share their thoughts. This is a leadership skill, and investing in future women leaders means giving them air time.”

Carol King, chief of staff, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, had a great conversation with her contact about nonprofits and mission-driven work — and they’re even planning a trip to Antarctica together in two years!.

“We talked about our respective career paths, and how important it is to keep an open mind when it comes to new opportunities. The most important thing that women can do is to build their networks and strong professional relationships. We are positioned to be good mentors, connectors, and conveners, and I’m mindful of how important my professional reputation and relationships are in changing jobs or even careers.”

Babita Patel, author of “Breaking Out in Prison,” spoke to her connection about everything from being a Council member to some of the overlap in the work they do. 

“The conversation was not necessarily focused on two women connecting, but rather just two humans working in this space connecting. It was nice to talk to someone who is in another part of the country, having a different experience…living in Arizona vs NYC. We definitely want to connect some more to share more resources and opportunities.”

Mohini Tadikonda, chief advancement officer at Movement Strategy Center, used her time as an opportunity to connect with her contact about what it means to be a woman of color in the workplace:

“I walked away from the conversation with a greater confirmation that being a person of color, particularly a woman of color working in a predominantly white organization, can present a unique layer of challenges regarding visibility, trust, respect, power dynamic, ability to be heard/listened to/valued that become less of an issue when working in a truly racially diverse environment. Unhealthy competition and power dynamics are often created when there are only a few women or people of color represented in a work environment. The power dynamic between white women and women of color in the workplace is also a topic that warrants a deeper conversation.”

Meredith Davis and her contact had a conversation that went so well, they immediately scheduled a follow-up, discussing everything from finding your own resonant leadership style to how to communicate and reinforce that style during times of opportunity.

“We also connected on being full-time working mothers, and what example we want to set for our daughters. In the realm of supporting working women, we discussed empowering our children through Montessori education themes of independence, ‘following the child,’ and having the humility to learn from our children.”

Kibi Anderson, Content, Strategy & Business Development Executive and Professional Development Coach, said that she and the woman she connected with are “totally BFFs going forward,” and stressed that the exercise was especially helpful for busy folks who wouldn’t normally go out of their way to reach out to their networks.

“We bonded over our shared desires to encourage more uncomfortable conversations, especially between female groups around the topics of equity, inclusion, diversity and how we have become so polarized as a society. We honestly were so focused on the joy of sharing our personal journeys that we didn’t really dive into much professional jargon during our call, which was actually refreshing because we connected more on a human level.”