The Future of Work has gained increasing attention in human resource management (HRM) literature and is commonly defined as the result of multiple forces of change affecting three interconnected dimensions of organizations: work (the what), the workforce (the who), and the workplace (the where) (Schwartz et al., 2019). Regarding work, key questions concern the types of tasks employees will perform in the future, including the impact of automation, human – robot interaction, and AI. Furthermore, the degree of human autonomy and decision-making freedom represents a key aspect. More broadly, there is a shift from understanding work as task completion toward problem-solving and the management of human relationships. In terms of the workforce, organizations must address changing expectations of Generation Z, the challenges of an aging society, and a wide continuum of employment options – from traditional full-time roles to outsourcing, independent contracting, and gig work arrangements. Issues related to the acquisition of talent and the development of employee competencies require more attention. Finally, the workplace is evolving from traditional co-located environments to increasingly distributed and virtual settings. While such transformations offer flexibility, they also raise concerns related to employee loneliness, organizational culture, and career advancement opportunities.
The mini-track welcomes presentations focusing on, but not limited to the following themes:
– Automation, human – robot interaction, and AI in the workplace
– Employee autonomy and decision-making in future work
– Changing nature of work: from tasks to problem-solving
– Workforce diversity: Generation Z and aging populations
– Gig work, outsourcing, and alternative employment models
– Flexibility at work
– Remote and hybrid work environments
– Employee well-being, organizational culture, and career opportunities in the future workplace
Track Chairs: Prof. Dr. Živilė Stankevičiūtė, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania, & Assoc. Prof. dr. Aleš Trunk, International School for Social and Business Studies, Slovenia
E-mail: zivile.stankeviciute@ktu.lt