1.2 Challenges and Opportunities as You Enter the Workforce

1 Introduction: Challenges and Opportunities

Now that you have a sense for the course, and the course team, let’s kick things off with an interview with the Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez. Mr. Perez has a distinguished record of public service. In the video below, Professor Kochan asks Mr. Perez to reflect on the changing nature of work, the importance of education, pressing challenges for the current workforce, and possible solutions.

Video: A Message from U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez to the Next Generation Workforce

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In our animated video about work, we talked about how the labor movement influenced working conditions throughout history. In this next video, we hear from Liz Shuler, Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO (the umbrella organization of labor unions in the United States) about the labor movement in the U.S. today.

Video: A Message from AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Liz Shuler

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The changing nature of work is a global phenomenon, just as are concerns about improving the quality of work. Guy Ryder, the Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), explains how the ILO is tackling these issues at an international level.

Video: A Message from Guy Ryder, ILO Director-General

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In the following video we’ll hear from Professor Lee Dyer of Cornell University who will discuss how human resource management shapes the employment relationship and influences job quality.

Video: A Message from Lee Dyer to HR Professionals

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Attentiveness Question

HR Strategy check

Government Policies close

Technological Development close

Education level close

While there has been gridlock in Washington regarding labor policy, there have been major innovations in work at the local level. In the video below, Professor Kochan examines some of these innovations.

Video: All Innovations Are Local

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Attentiveness Question 1

Innovative check

Traditional close

Attentiveness Question 2

About 66% close

About 33% close

About 13% check

About 3% close

Attentiveness Question 3

Southwest Airlines close

Google close

In-N-Out Burger close

Market Basket check

Mr. Perez provided some perspective in the previous video. But, to really understand the world of work today, it’s important to take a closer look at history. We’ve prepared the animated video below to document the evolution of work.

Video: History of Work

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What are the current challenges and opportunities facing today’s workforce? Professor Kochan examines these questions in the following video. After you finish watching, there are attentiveness questions directly below. These questions will assess the extent to which you have mastered the content covered in the video.

Video: Current Challenges and Opportunities: Today’s Labor Market in Perspective

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Attentiveness Question 1

Productivity grew more than wages check

Productivity and wages grew at about the same rates close

Productivity grew less than wages close

Explanation Productivity grew more than wages

Attentiveness Question 2

1930 close

1960 close

1980 check

2008 close

Professor Kochan and Mary Rowe, an Adjunct Professor of Management and former MIT Omnbudsperson, discuss how social conflicts affect the workplace and how to address “micro-inequities.”

Video: Managing Societal and Workplace Conflicts: Interview with Mary Rowe

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Many of the challenges facing today’s workforce are felt most vividly by the so called “Millennial Generation”, i.e., individuals born in the mid-1980s and after. In the following video, MIT Sloan student Meryam and Wellesley College student Eileen offer Millennials’ perspectives on their generation, including their desires for work and their responsibilities for the future. Please answer the attentiveness question (located below the video) when you are finished watching.

Video: The Millennial Generation’s Views on the American Dream

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Attentiveness Question

Listen to their employees close

Engage them in problem solving that really matters close

Be firm about office working hours check

Be flexible about when and where people work close

Explanation Future managers are expected to be flexible in allowing their employees to decide how, when and where should they work to be more productive.Also the managers shouls listen to their employees and engage them in problem solving activities.

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Shaping the Future of Work (15.662x)