CS 4001Mary Jean Harrold 1 Computers and Work
CS 4001Mary Jean Harrold2 Outline 8.1 Changing nature of work 8.2 Impact on employment 8.3 The work environment 8.4 Employee monitoring 8.5 Health issues
CS 4001Mary Jean Harrold3 Outline 8.1 Changing nature of work 8.2 Impact on employment Job destruction and creation Computers and employment Unemployment caused by technology Some jobs eliminated but others created Do computers destroy more jobs than they create? Technology, economic factors, and employment Studies suggest that unemployment should be addressed by restoring economies and societies capacity to deal with it But are we earning less? Data from one study indicates that many measures of real income and quality of life have been increasing as computerization has increased
CS 4001Mary Jean Harrold4 Outline 8.2 Impact on employment (cont’d) Job destruction and creation (cont’d) A global workforce Changing skills and jobs Reasons for optimism Computerization helps train for other jobs—unskilled can train more quickly than in the past Still need for many jobs not related to computers Transitions Again planning for change, being flexible Online training can help
CS 4001Mary Jean Harrold5 Discussion: Impact on Employment 1.What are some job categories (name 2) where the number of jobs decreased drastically because of computers? 2.What are some job categories (name 2) where the number of jobs increased drastically because of computers? 3.Do computers destroy more jobs than they create? 4.How can the unemployment caused by computerization be addressed? 5.A look at offshoring (vs outsourcing) offshoring
CS 4001Mary Jean Harrold6 Outline 8.3 The work environment Teleworking Benefits Reduced overhead, increased productivity Easier to work with customers, clients in other countries Reduces traffic, pollution, etc. Problems Corporate loyalty is weak Reduction in office space requirements shifted to home Lack of social interactions, social isolation, lack of visibility to boss
CS 4001Mary Jean Harrold7 Outline 8.3 The work environment (cont’d) Teleworking (cont’d) Side effects Changes sense of community—before industrial revolution, people worked at home; after industrial revolution, people worked at factories, offices; now, people can work at home more Restrictions on telework Early restrictions—e.g., home business not zoned, labor laws, OSHA
CS 4001Mary Jean Harrold8 Outline 8.3 The work environment (cont’d) Changing business structures More small, mom-pop businesses More multinational businesses More authority and decision-making to employees
CS 4001Mary Jean Harrold9 Discussion: The Work Environment—Teleworking 1.Should there be laws banning home-based work? Why or why not? 2.Should there be some restrictions on home work? What principles should be used in deciding what to prohibit? 3.An example of successful teleworking Anywhere, Anytime—or Just Where is Your Office Anyhow? Susan Landau
CS 4001Mary Jean Harrold10 Outline 8.4 Employee monitoring Background Data entry, phone work, and retail Location monitoring Employee , web surfing, voice mail 8.5 Health issues Repetitive strain injury (RSI)
CS 4001Mary Jean Harrold11 Discussion: Employee Monitoring Assume you work for a recently formed software company developing new computer-security products. You are on a committee to write a company policy dealing with employee use of and the Web on company computer systems and a policy dealing with the monitoring of employee and Web use. What are some issues you need to consider when making this policy? Class exerciseClass exercise