It’s time for Canadians to embrace new work habits

From automation to flex hours, job parameters are changing rapidly, experts say

There is no turning back: The pandemic has forever changed how work works. It has also emboldened workers to demand more compensation and improved working conditions, according to a leading Canadian economist.

Speaking at a recent Globe and Mail event called People and Policy: Securing Canada’s Future Way of Life, Jim Stanford, director of the Centre for Future Work, told participants the pandemic “changed the mindset of workers. It made them think ‘how important is my job?’ and [re-evaluate] what they are prepared to put up with.”

ON-THE- JOB DEMANDS

Citing grocery workers as an example, Mr. Stanford noted that minimum wage, poor hours and stress about contracting the COVID-19 virus is compelling them to demand better working conditions and pay raises.

Sabrina Geremia, vice-president and country manager for Google Canada, agreed that the structure is changing, with more people preferring a hybrid office model, for example.

As a result, Google employees can now work three days a week in the office and two days from home, as well as remotely from anywhere for four weeks.

“It’s not perfect, but there’s a lot of flexibility,” she said. “When people connect, they do their best work.”

As the parameters of jobs change, employees are in stronger positions to demand that employers meet their needs – from altered hours and location to increased pay and responsibility. Ms. Geremia noted that Google’s solution to attract new hires is to offer fulfilling work.

All the same, the company does not always get every hire it wants. “There is a shortage of digital skills in Canada’s labour market” – which are important in every sector, she said.

RE- SKILLING SEEDS NEW GROWTH

According to Mr. Stanford, embracing new technology is not Canada’s strong point, and a fear and unfamiliarity with automation and AI have hampered economic progress.

“Canada is not as innovative as other countries, but a robot is not taking your job,” he said. “That is not how technology changes work. That hype is misplaced.”

It’s becoming more common to see self-checkouts at Canadian stores. While automation is replacing lower-skilled work – such as that of a cashier – Ms. Geremia also sees it as an opportunity.

“Individuals can let go of tasks and re-skill to a higher order that can’t be done by automation,” she said, “so, they work alongside automation.”

Ms. Geremia noted that historically in Canada, “we have overdone the hard skills and not indexed enough on soft skills.”

Mr. Stanford went further, saying that Canadian business investment in technology, automation, research and development, and other innovations has been “abysmal.”

“Our economy is becoming more labour intensive with low wages,” he said. “The overall performance is bad.”

TRUST IN INNOVATION CAN BRING IMPROVEMENTS

Yoshua Bengio, a University of Montreal professor in the department of computer science and operations research who specializes in AI, said the culture around innovation and risk needs to change, but industry has “a lack of trust.”

“Industry is very conservative. There is disincentive to innovate,” he said. “AI is not what you see in sci-fi movies.”

Technological advances, Mr. Bengio said, can help improve the workplace and production in sectors such as biotech, agriculture and medicine, as well as address crises such as climate change.

“Industry goes for maximum profit, and there is not much attention to the actual value to society,” he said, adding that government needs to invest in societal missions and nurture talent.

“Industry won’t go forward with innovation unless the government provides incentives.”

While recognizing that people are wary of machines taking over jobs, Mr. Bengio pointed out that AI is a tool that is developed by people – computer scientists and engineers in tandem with human domain experts, including climate scientists, chemists, health care providers and educators.

“There is a need to educate the public and make it clear AI and technology are not a threat.”

The panelists agreed that AI stretches human capacity and can take care of tedious work tasks allowing people to dive into more complex and rewarding projects.

It is also invaluable for data collection, managing energy resources or providing students with automated tutorials.

Pointing to the future, Mr. Bengio noted that citizens need to understand how much AI can help improve their lives.

“We need to embrace the risk and be more aware of the impact of technology and how it is beneficial to society,” he said. “It can help protect us and democracy.”

Canada is not as innovative as other countries, but a robot is not taking your job. That is not how technology changes work. That hype is misplaced.

JIM STANFORD

DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRE FOR FUTURE WORK