Filenews 6 February 2022 - by Xenia Tourki
Teleworking, four-day work, early retirements and many resignations. Although it is too early for a full assessment, it seems that the impact of the pandemic on the working environment is catalytic. These changes are nothing new, they were not created because of the restrictive measures imposed. But lockdowns have greatly affected work and accelerated changes that were already underway. As Elias Livanos, an expert at the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training for many businesses and employees, mentioned in his interview, the pandemic has brought significant changes in working practices, in the way we work and in how we perceive work itself.
The opportunities are now huge. The trends that have been created will remain to a very significant extent, because both the companies, the organizations and the entrepreneurs themselves realize that there are very great financial possibilities. With minimal equipment a small businessman can spread his wings all over the world. This means, explained Elias Livanos, that we must learn to work and operate in a wider environment. Workers need to attach great importance to innovation, consistency, to step forward and create something that will intrigue a global market. Attitudes seem to be changing, but at a slower pace in smaller countries, such as Cyprus and Greece, he pointed out.
At the same time, the challenges are great, as digital transformation and automation create new data. The debate on work and technology is nothing new, explained Elias Livanos, stressing that what history has shown is that while some jobs are being lost, at the same time new ones are being created. This means that workers need to adapt and acquire new skills to remain in the labour market. And here, the Greek expert pointed out, the education system needs to change itself, in order to be able both to help children acquire the skills required and to better listen to the needs of the labour market. In any case, critical thinking, questioning, the process of acquiring knowledge, teamwork must come into the educational system and we must leave the system of parroting and memorization, which ultimately does not help anything because when someone simply memorizes something, he simply does not learn it.
Has the pandemic finally proved to be a catalyst for the reshaping of work as it has been so often called over the last two years?
There have been too many changes on many levels. Changes have been made in terms of both the workforce and the work itself. For example, there has been a large wave of early retirements, especially at the beginning of the pandemic, which then accelerated more departures. It is worth mentioning that by 2030 all baby boomers will be retired, which may create a big gap, especially in Europe, which is facing the issue of an ageing population. The effects are, however, knock-on especially considering the digital changes that are also being recorded. There was also a great development in terms of the movement of workers, sometimes because they were forced, some by choice. Teleworking has greatly affected work, but it has also had collateral consequences. For example, the cancellation of business trips and conferences has had the effect of negatively affecting the catering and travel sectors. On the other hand, however, there are sectors whose turnover has multiplied, such as transport. Trade, after all, is transferred online. We've seen stores open with only an online presence. The pandemic has also accelerated the automation of the economy. In general, the way we live and, by extension, work, is changing. My sense is that these changes will remain even when the pandemic is over.
So what changes have come to stay? How will the work sector be shaped in the post-pandemic era?
The pandemic came at a time when platforms are playing an increasingly meaningful role. A Greek graphic designer, for example, instead of having an office of his own enters a platform, has a global clientele and acquires clients in the United Arab Emirates. This would be unthinkable sometime, today with the pandemic is an increasingly powerful trend. We see magicians and magicians, professions that required personal contact, to a very large extent have been transferred online. Or gymnasts who turn to online classes urging their guests to turn a room in their home into a gym. I believe these trends will prevail to a very significant extent, because the companies themselves, the organisations and also the entrepreneurs are realising that there is a great deal of financial potential. That is, someone does not have to pay rent, pay electricity or move, at the same time reduces his environmental footprint and at the same time has access to a much larger clientele. For these reasons, I am convinced that the working model will change in the near future.
Are these changes being recorded at the same rate in all countries?
No. In countries such as Cyprus and Greece, which emphasize personal contact, it may take longer. But more and more are seeing the advantages. It used to be a general perception that when you're not at work, it goes, you don't work. But I think even these employers have seen the advantages and now think that being at home not only does not get lazy but is likely to work much more. The thought that the model from nine to five, five days a week is over, is gaining more and more ground.
Has the pandemic finally made us look at work in a different light? What are the labour values to which both young and older workers give the most weight?
A global market is being created, but it is very demanding. Workers need to attach great importance to innovation, consistency, to step forward and create something that will intrigue a global market. Attitudes seem to be changing, but at a slower pace in smaller countries, such as Cyprus and Greece.
In other countries, the phenomenon of great resignation has been recorded in the last two years, in which millions of workers are leaving their jobs. Do you have any information on whether something similar is happening in Cyprus and Greece?
There is no specific evidence. We know how many left because they retired, but not how many left their jobs either because it was exhausting or because it did not satisfy them or how many sought better working conditions abroad. We know, however, that there are workers who left because they were not satisfied with their work, but we have no data on how many there are. The point is that conditions now seem to favour this trend. A gymnast, a language teacher, instead of working for others, can have their own clientele and work as they want. I mean I'm not sure if that's something we can put under the umbrella of great resignation or the new order of things.
What challenges and difficulties does the digital transformation bring to work and employment?
There are two conflicting forces. On the one hand, with technology on a daily level, we can carry out a task much faster and more efficiently than in the past. Technology gives us incredible possibilities but makes the work more complex. Something we can do today in a day, in the past we needed a month. This fact, combined with the fact that we must be constantly available, creates a complexity and demands. As a result, employees are filled with stress. Moreover, some professions that were considered innovative have now become monotonous. Let's think of a doctor who has had operations, whereas now they are done by a machine and he just supervises. The challenges that technology brings are enormous and it is up to us how to manage them.
Do you agree that automation will drive millions of workers to the margins? And if so, what action should be taken to avoid this negative scenario?
I love this question and it is clearly not new. If we want to be descriptive and go back to Greek mythology we will see that Hephaestus built robots to help him and make his work more effective. That is, since then there has been the thought of machines and even machines with elements of artificial intelligence that would contribute greatly to the work. 100 years ago, that is, today, John Keynes predicted that work will only be a hobby, we will only work if we want to, because technology will do everything. Well today, not only do we not do a job as a hobby, but we work so much that we don't even have time for hobbies. Machines at work are not today's conversation but as old as work and technology. What we are seeing is that some jobs are disappearing because there is technology but others are appearing. Of course we have to adapt and understand developments. One could say that the translation machines would wipe out the work of the translator. We do not see this happening, but instead they are sought after to confirm and correct the work that machines do. It is, of course, the case that lower-skilled occupations are more affected. It is also true that many workers need to adapt and acquire new skills in order to remain in the labour market. Surely what should not exist is complacency. Practices of the past, as I will help because I know someone and that someone else knows someone else and there is a clientele ready, are weakened so it is advisable that young people do not rely on any other than to choose sectors that now have a global impact.
Dedication and hard work lead to success
If you had in front of you two children who are concerned about the directions they should take, what would you tell them? What would be your advice to increase their chances of professional success, in addition to "doing something they love" that is usually said?
Doing something they love is a good tip. When you love something and dedicate yourself to it, you may succeed. But that can't be the only advice. A child, for example, from Limassol or Thessaloniki loves space and wants to become an astronaut. It is not impossible, but he must know that there will be difficulties. A child must take into account not only his wants but also the trends of the economy. Next to "if you want to become an astronaut you will try hard", you must add the difficulties he will face along the way and that he cannot do so by staying in his neighborhood. No goal should be ruled out when one is determined to succeed. Certainly choosing a profession is not an easy task. What I am sure of, is that dedication to something and hard work is 80%. It is not enough to be a good student, to have acquaintances or to have inherited a business. That is not enough. Love, devotion and continuous improvement will bring success. Also, good reflexes are needed, and these are acquired when one watches the developments and is never complacent. At the same time, it is important that a child does not rest on anything and relies on his own strengths. Naturally. Flexibility is now essential. Someone who is not flexible will be left behind.
Is it true that it is often said that workers in the future will often change directions and professions?
We cannot know for sure what will happen in the future. But what we can say is that someone who does not listen to developments and does not have his eyes open to see how he can improve, perhaps even miss the train. Whether he will need to change various professions in his life depends on several factors. One who will study a doctor is very likely to remain in this profession, but in a different way. For other professions again things are easier. It is a given that we must be ready, if not obliged, to break and get out of our safety zone.
What needs to change in the education system, so that children acquire education but also graduate with skills and knowledge that will help them in their professional rehabilitation?
That's a great and painful question. In Greece, as in Cyprus, where we have common elements, the education system has traditionally been attached to the needs of the public sector. We have many faculties of sociology, of political studies in the universities that gave directly work in the public sector. The education system, at least as far as universities are concerned, must respond to a reasonable extent to the needs of the labour market and include new faculties, perhaps reducing others. At the same time, our mentality must also change. Many times we end up studying something that we may not like or have no career prospects because we just went to that particular school. Also, critical thinking, questioning, the process of acquiring knowledge, teamwork must be put into the educational system and we must leave the system of parroting and memorization, which in the end does not help anything because when someone simply memorizes something, he simply does not learn it. This, of course, also means restating the role of the teachers themselves.
