Thinking Forward Series

The Impact of Technology on Workforce Skill Learning

In this piece, Dr. Beier outlines a range of modern technologies and their role in workplace skill learning. Ranging from web-based instruction and Massive Open Online Courses, to augmented reality and chatbots, Dr. Beier explores the qualities of each of these technologies and provides examples of how they are, and could be, used to facilitate workplace learning.

Addressing Job Insecurity in the 21st Century

In this piece, Dr. Shoss outlines the prevalence, experience, and consequences of job insecurity. Dr. Shoss highlights the role job insecurity plays as a stressor in the modern workforce. She suggests that specific subsets of workers (i.e., less educated workers, African American employees, or, counterintuitively, the most desirable workers) are particularly susceptible to this stressor in the modern workforce.

Specifically, Dr. Shoss notes aspects of globalization and technology, such as automation, artificial intelligence, climate displaced workers, and global political climate, that have shifted the stage of the modern workforce. She further links these changes to individual behavior, as well as organizational, political, and economic systems.

Job-Stress Recovery: Core Findings, Future Research Topics, and Remaining Challenges

In this piece, Dr. Sonnentag defines recovery, and presents core findings and future directions of recovery research. For example, meta-analytic evidence suggests that mentally detaching from work is important, stressful work makes this detachment difficult, but physical activities, relaxation, and opportunities to experience mastery can help. Dr. Sonnentag also highlights specific challenges to recovery (e.g., long work hours) and potential points of intervention to overcome these challenges (e.g., setting aside small periods of time).