Finale: How work has changed since we started this show
Jan 28, 2025
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In this heartfelt finale, Andrew Hill, a workplace dynamics expert, and Anjli Raval, a management insights professional, join Isabel Berwick to reflect on three years of work evolution. They explore the lasting impact of the pandemic on workplace culture, emphasizing the importance of human connections. The conversation shifts to the balance of power in remote settings and the challenges of workplace wellness. Celebrating community through shared experiences, they highlight how personal growth through podcasting has transformed their perspectives on work.
The podcast emphasizes that meaningful human interactions have become more crucial in workplaces, despite a return to pre-pandemic norms.
It highlights the fluctuating balance of power in the workplace, revealing a recent shift back toward employer control amid changing labor market dynamics.
Deep dives
The Evolution of Workplaces Post-Pandemic
Workplaces have shifted their focus from being merely about physical locations to emphasizing the importance of human interactions. The conversation highlights that, despite initial hopes for a revolutionary change in work dynamics after the pandemic, many practices have returned to pre-pandemic norms. Remote and hybrid work models have persisted, suggesting that while flexibility is valued, the fundamental nature of work relationships requires personal engagement. This perspective underscores that the essence of a workplace lies within the people, not the environment.
The Dynamic Between Employees and Employers
The balance of power in the workplace has seen significant fluctuations over recent years. Initially, employees enjoyed a dominant position due to a tight labor market, compelling employers to address their demands for better conditions and salaries. However, recent trends indicate a shift back toward employer control, suggesting that the prior employee-centric dialogue has faded somewhat. This cyclical nature of workplace dynamics reflects changing labor market conditions and highlights how discussions around workplace culture must adapt accordingly.
The Impact of AI and Leadership Styles
The introduction of AI into the workforce is creating a sense of urgency for organizations to adapt and experiment with new tools and processes. Notably, the conversation indicates a reluctance among employees to engage with AI, contributing to feelings of being left behind. Additionally, the discussion reveals concerns about leadership styles, emphasizing that while there is a push for empathetic and kind leadership, traditional top-down approaches risk resurgence amid global political trends. This suggests a complex relationship between organizational evolution, technological integration, and leadership ethos in shaping future workplaces.
After more than three years, and 153 episodes, this is the final Working It podcast. Isabel Berwick gathers three colleagues (and friends) to discuss what they’ve learned about the world of work since the show first launched. So please, if you will, join Isabel, Andrew Hill, Emma Jacobs and Anjli Raval in the kitchen for a slice of ‘Working It’ cake, and a heartfelt goodbye to the podcast.
Presented by Isabel Berwick, produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval, mixed by Simon Panayi. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s head of audio.