The world of work has changed and we have to change with it

THE WORLD of work used to be fairly straightforward. You drew up your CV, applied for a job and then worked for your employer for many years — perhaps getting promoted or changing department from time to time. If, for whatever reason, you didn’t have a job, you were unemployed and could claim the benefits.

The charity I am privileged to lead — Resource — was set up in 1992 to give free, confidential advice and support to Jewish people who were out of work and help them to get back into employment.

Since then, we have offered one-to-one appointments, seminars and training sessions, some of which ran over multiple days and were mostly held during normal office hours between Monday and Friday.

But things are now far more complicated. Increasing numbers of people have part-time jobs, work flexible hours, are committed to zero-hour contracts, do voluntary work or run small online or realworld businesses.

Even those without a full-time, salaried job often participate in the gig economy to some extent, where they may, for example, sell their artwork on Etsy, drive an Uber or deliver takeaway food.

It is now far less likely for anyone to be completely unemployed, in the old sense of the word.

The Covid pandemic has, of course, accelerated many of these changes. The time away from the office has led more and more people to seek to improve their work-life balance, including working more often from home, having more flexible or reduced hours or seeking a complete career change.

It has made many people re-evaluate what they want from their work life; to realise that they don’t have to stick with the job they have if it is causing them stress, unhappiness and maybe even making them ill.

It has led to the phenomenon many are calling the Great Resignation — an historically high number of people thinking of leaving the jobs they have to seek pastures new, to improve their lives or to seek more income at a time of rapidly increasing costs.

And some — especially the over 55s — are choosing to leave the workplace altogether.

For many, the new world of work is a golden opportunity, where they feel they can at last “have it all”.

It can allow them to spend more time at home, perhaps with their children.

But others find the lack of certainty, the rapid changes and the feeling they should be constantly looking for their next move unsettling, as they struggle to navigate the unfamiliar and daunting world of choice.

Employers are also having to adapt to this new environment and the pressures on them have never been higher. They have to provide flexible and hybrid working conditions; to build and maintain a sense of loyalty and togetherness among employees who may no longer share office space; and, of course, to provide a competitive salary and rewards package.

Those who don’t adjust are finding their employees being snapped up by competitors who have been quicker to embrace newer working models.

Resource has changed too. Our core goals remain the same — to help people develop the tools, learn the skills and gain the confidence they need to get the job they want.

But we have adapted our services to match the flexible needs of our clients. We offer one-to-one meetings with professional advisers, as well as interactive workshops online, which can take place in the evenings and even at weekends where appropriate.

You can come to us for assistance even if you currently have a job and are not fulfilled — or not making ends meet — if you feel you would benefit from some help and guidance to get moving onto the next stage of your working life.

And now that all of our services are offered remotely, there is the added advantage of being able to help people anywhere in the UK.

We look forward to sharing the journey with you.