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Future of Office Work

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Looking to the Future of Office Work It’s no secret that technology has completely changed the world we live in, and the use of technology is growing at an exponential rate. The use of technology within the work place is no different, and has many effects on the different aspects of a job. Clerical work has by tradition been manual processing, organizing, distributing, and maintaining different information for an organization but as technology continues to enter the work force, clerical jobs are being affected in a variety of ways. “Technology can change not only the content of jobs but also the number of clerical jobs” (Hodson & Sullivan pg. 316). It can be argued that technology will lead to both job growth and job elimination in regards to clerical work. Clerical work can consists of a lot of record keeping and coordination, and some aspects of the job can be done completely by computer now which may lead to the displacement of some clerical workers. The jobs that are likely to see the biggest decline are the non-customer facing jobs like switch board operators or typists. Deskilling may occur because the tasks that once needed to be completed manually are now completed by a machine or computer. Because the worker in this case is no longer using his/her skills, they become deskilled and automation takes over. Inevitably, this may lead to these jobs becoming obsolete and ultimately eliminated. In contrast, many clerical jobs should stay strong even with the implementation of new technology because of the human interaction that is required. Hotel clerks, receptionists, and secretaries may even expect to see growth as a result of technology making their jobs more efficient and cost effective. Mobile technology has added a whole new aspect to technology on a more individual level. With smartphones like Blackberrys and iPhones a clerical worker can access company files, email, and even web conference from just about anywhere. Having instant access to files and emails remotely creates more flexibility and convenience for the employee and employer. Using this technology can lead to skill upgrading. In order to use new and advanced technology, these clerical workers will need to learn to use new resources and tools. Also as a result of new technology and efficiency, prices of products can be lowered which leads to an increased demand for goods and services. Increased demand for goods and services may also lead to the hiring of more workers. As with anything new, challenges can arise in the implementation of technology. When an employee calls in sick, specifically a clerical worker, they are relatively easily replaced for the time being and their work can be allotted to several other employees. When a computer breaks or stops working probably, it can cripple and entire operation for the day, the week, or longer. Using certain technology can also be difficult, so training employees to use the tools made available can also pose a challenge to organizations. As a whole, all clerical jobs will and have been affected by the implementation of new technology. As mentioned previously, some jobs like that of a typist may be displaced as work becomes obsolete, while jobs as hotel clerks and other customer facing clerical positions continue to thrive and grow. Outsourcing will also become more prevalent as companies continue to try and find ways to cut costs, but clerical work can be rather safe for jobs like secretary or receptionist. Regardless of the costs associated, it wouldn’t make much sense to have a receptionist or secretary overseas. In many cases, secretaries don’t even have to be as trained as in years and decades past. Many of a secretary’s former duties can now be done automatically or with very little human input. Yet even with this deskilling taking place, secretaries still seem to find work, perhaps simply because of the prestige an employer might feel by having a personal assistant of sorts that can run errands and get coffee.

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