The future of work

WFH, presenteeism and the ‘Big Resignation’. Emma Jacobs reviews one novel and two searching non-fiction books shining a spotlight on some of the dramatic changes in working culture since the pandemic started. "The pandemic has illuminated problems in the workforce and — for better or worse — has accelerated changes in working practices. A McKinsey report in 2020 found two-thirds of senior executives surveyed “saying they were stepping up investment in automation and AI [artificial intelligence] either somewhat or significantly”, meaning that workers are liberated from the dreariest or most hazardous tasks to focus on quality jobs, or alternatively, made unemployed."