Employees worried developed countries face new … – LeMondeInformatique

In developed countries, employees think technology will make less essential. Credit: DR

56% of respondents to the global survey Evolving Global Worforce conducted by TNS believe that technology is changing too quickly and it will have a negative impact on them. They expect to task automation and fear that the big data impedes their individual freedom.

If users believe that their smartphones, tablets, laptops and other equipment IT makes them more productive in the office, they are concerned about the growing role of technology in their private lives. According to the results of the Evolving Global Worforce study of 4764 employees in ten countries, including France, 56% believe in fact that technology has an adverse effect on them. The authors of this report by the TNS firm on behalf of Intel and Dell between July 11 and September 5, indicated that these “Downsiders” technology felt that its proliferation contributes to both separate and to make them less important. They also believe that technology is changing too fast and can not keep up. Besides doubts about corporate responsibility with regard to their personal data, they fear that the trend of big data will result in the termination of their individual freedom.

However, some expect the big data are used for internal promotions or career development, for their part, almost 40% believe that recruitment will be carried out by fully automated software rather than by humans. Some also fear being watched by cameras when working at home. The study states that “Downsiders” constitute the majority of respondents in developed countries like the US, UK, Japan and France, where technology has a strong presence in business. In contrast, the “upsiders” would be the majority in emerging countries such as China, India and the United Arab Emirates, the IT part of the lifestyle for as long.

gradual changes rather than changes

upsiders (44% of world total) thought believe that most problems can be solved with technology, and the whole thing contributes to gather. For them, IT is a key factor that enhances their lives and without it they would not be happy. The report’s authors believe that over time can be determined which of the two groups is right but they expect the response to be both valid for both “.If we looks at the results by country, 66% of respondents based in the United States believe that the technology will eventually reach a limit in its ability to improve productivity, but it will not happen right away. Just under a quarter think that their jobs will be fully automated, while seven in ten feel it is better to perform tasks by humans in China, they are only 46% think the same.

Clearly, these assets are convinced of the productivity gains in technology and they foresee gradual changes rather than disruption. 87% believe tablets will replace the PC (although no date has been set), while 92% believe that speech recognition will eventually replace the keyboard. “I consider that these people are the backbone of the work and that they will gain in importance incredibly today and in the future,” said Steve Lalla, vice president and head of the cloud at Dell. “What is happening is that employees want to be closer to customers,” he added. “For this, they must be mobile and go up hill and down dale. Technology can make things easier, but it can not necessarily do everything. “

A perception of teleworking which differs depending on the country

The Evolving Workforce Survey conducted by TNS has also prepared a report on trends in places work habits. 52% believe that those who are used to working with them are at least as productive as if they were working in the office, 29% having no strong opinion. In the US, 40% believe the home productivity higher than in the office, while in China, this share is 50%. At Dell, 20% of the 100,000 employees of the group are part of a flexible work program, a proportion that is expected to reach 50% in 2020, the company believes that this practice improves the productivity of its teams.

In its internal investigations, the group found an increase in employee satisfaction due to the introduction of telework. In addition, remote collaboration would have allowed him $ 12 million to save and avoid 6,700 tons of emissions of greenhouse gases.

The parallel survey notes a significant gap between countries on business attitudes towards teleworking. For example, Germany and Japan have a culture traditionally anchored on the work within the company. In France and Germany, some employers have decided to disable their messaging platforms shape during the weekends to reduce the workload of their employees. At the same time, some employees are better equipped at home and at the office and have faster access to the Internet, “Therefore, work practice is more widespread than ever before,” said Bob O’Donnell, founder of Technalysis Research.