New Work

The term New Work was coined in the mid-1970s by social philosopher Frithjof Bergmann. Bergmann developed the theoretical concept of New Work. Basically, New Work stands for various alternative forms and models of work.
Bergmann's concept of new work attempts to reverse the principle of wage labor.Bergmann defines the concepts of end and means as follows: Since the industrial revolution, the purpose of work has been primarily to complete a specific task, such as a step on an assembly line. The worker who fulfilled this end was the means, the tool, so to speak.

The New Work concept reverses this relationship.New Work represents the means by which people can realize themselves as individuals. According to Bergmann, the focus is on the meaningful function of work. Values such as freedom and independence are also important. Bergman's general definition of New Work is as follows New Work is the work a person really wants. New Work should offer new opportunities for creativity and personal development. The focus is on self-determination and the old, rigid ways of working are a thing of the past.

Our society is currently undergoing a transformation from an industrial society to a knowledge society. Globalization and digitalization in particular are having far-reaching effects and consequences on the world of work.  These changes are forcing the world of work to rethink and adapt to new demands. Traditional work structures are giving way to freer and more flexible ways of working.

New Work is now one of the megatrends that will slowly but profoundly change the world, especially in the long term. It affects each and every one of us and has an impact on all levels of society, in business and politics as well as in science, technology and culture.

New Work zählt inzwischen zu den Megatrends, die die Welt langsam aber grundlegend und vor allem langfristig verändern werden. Sie wirken auf jeden Einzelnen von uns und haben Auswirkungen auf alle Ebenen der Gesellschaft sowohl in Wirtschaft und Politik, als auch in Wissenschaft, Technik und Kultur.

The Zukunftsinstitut explains and describes the New Work megatrend as follows:
“Digitalization is throwing people back to their humanity - especially in their working lives. If machines can perform certain tasks better than humans in the future, we will start to think about the meaning of work. If work no longer needs us, what do we need work for? New Work describes an epochal shift that begins with the question of meaning and reshapes the world of work from the ground up. The age of the creative economy has dawned - and it is time to say goodbye to the rational meritocracy.New Work focuses on the development of each individual's potential. Because work is at the service of people:We no longer work to live, and we no longer live to work.The future is about the successful symbiosis of life and work.”


Image source Photo by Shridhar Gupta on Unsplash