Technology in the American Workplace // Essay

4 March 2021

Brooklyne Elysse 

Technology in the American Workplace: The Consequence of Convenience 

            The use of technology in the American workplace has taken major strides in its development. Technology has changed the workplace atmosphere, but it doesn’t stop there, it has also vastly effected careers themselves. According to Time Magazine, “One study estimates that about 400,000 jobs were lost to automation in U.S factories from 1990 to 2007” (Semuels, Par. 3). Technology in the workplace comes with many benefits. Technology is extremely convenient, speedy, and efficient. Nevertheless, living in a society accustomed to the use of electronics does come with many downsides that must not be overlooked. 

            The speed at which technology has integrated into America’s workforce has changed the way jobs and education is secured. It has brought complications into the workplace in the forms of the following: additional employee training, costly upgrading of equipment, job replacement by digitization, and a decrease in employee health and people skills. The negative effects of technology in the American workplace must be handled responsibly in order for the convenience to outweigh the consequence. 

Many jobs rely on electronic devices and the ability for the employees to operate these devices. Even entry level careers need basic to experienced understanding of technological savvy. These skills are crucial to the American workforce. “Since 2002, the share of all U.S. jobs that require extensive and mid-level digital skills has surged from 45 to 71 percent of the total” (Muro and Liu, Para. 6). Thus, in order to keep up with the constant technology upgrades and changes, employees will benefit from the knowledge of technical training and adoption of these skill sets. However, there are exceptions to this spread of technology in the workplace. An example being the cultural or religious communities where traditional methods of employment are encouraged, and technology is forbidden. Some people may see technology as a thief of their generation. Letters are quickly replaced by instant messages, person to person phone calls are replaced by emails, and coffee shop chats are now replaced by zoom calls. Technology, even outside of the workplace, has surely made an impact on the way we interact and conduct everyday business. As long as technology keeps progressing, electronics will be part of employment and must be learned in order to succeed in modern day workplaces. Technology convenience and progress come at a cost. Ultimately, the challenge that America faces is to work within the parameters of technology without losing mankind’s humanness.

As a result of technology’s popularity in the American workplace, many jobs are being amended and/or replaced by digitalization. Humans tend to come with more of a liability than machines. A benefit of this technology replacement is that dangerous jobs replaced by technology can “free humans” from a potentially harmful task. (Semuels, Par. 8). Absolutely, some jobs are at risk of being replaced by artificial intelligence as they can be more efficient and safer. Semuels wrote: 

 

Machines have made jobs obsolete for centuries. The spinning jenny replaced weavers, buttons displaced elevator operators, and the Internet drove travel agencies out of business. …the drive to replace humans with machinery is accelerating as companies struggle to avoid workplace infections of COVID-19 and to keep operating costs low. The U.S. shed around 40 million jobs at the peak of the pandemic, and while some have come back, some will never return. One group of economists estimates that 42% of the jobs lost are gone forever. (Par.3)

 

Even though humans are being replaced by technology and “smart” equipment, some instances prove to be helpful in order to create a safer environment for employees. People may reject to the idea of job replacement by technology. As more and more generations accept the role that technology plays in the American workplace, old fashioned mindsets will eventually be lost in light of “progress”. In addition, safety is not a guarantee even with technological presence. There simply is no way of guaranteeing the safety of ones’ employees, though improved working conditions can be put in place to create safer jobs. In a world of technology, jobs will not stay the same as progress is made. 

            Numerous stresses in the workplace are directly contributed to the use of technology. Studies from Norway introduce terminology regarding stress to employees in a technology-centered work environment. According to these multiple authors, “Craig Brod coined the term “technostress” in the early 1980s to denote the psychological problems associated with people adapting to the introduction of new technologies.” (Christensen, Finne, et al. Par. 4.3) Certainly, technology and electronics can add levels of stress to a workplace. Stress at work can then lead to a decrease in health for employees. Of course, not all stress is due to technology. Many factors may result in employee stress, some of which have no whatsoever correlation to their career. Stress may include personal relationships, homelife, and negative childhood experiences reoccurring in the employee’s life. Others may suggest that health issues and stress stem from genetics only and have nothing to do with the environment. Nevertheless, stress in the workplace is real and technology certainly may contribute to the negative effects of employee health.

            In opposition of the challenges which technology brings to the American workplace, some are willing to ignore the many consequences of it in light of the almighty dollar. However, coming from a Christian worldview, monetary progress should never supersede the quality of life and employee job satisfaction. In summary of Colby.edu, the ever-changing technology can be deceiving as the American society keeps wanting bigger, better, and faster technology, but will it ever be enough to fulfill? (A Colby Community Web Site, Par. 4) Indeed, when the main goal is to make more money, sacrifices will be made, and compromises will weaken company integrity. What if the innovation of technology was only an illusion that implies to humans a supposed better quality of life? Technology in the American workplace can create an environment of attachment to devices that are not meaningful like the human connection is. Valuing monetary worth above all else will not solve the problems that one might wish it could. However, the investment of technology can improve the efficiency and bottom line of a company, this cannot be refuted. 

            The benefits of technology ultimately come with consequences that must be handled responsibly. As the world changes, is the convenience of technology really benefitting us? Each generation has dealt with progress in areas of technology and will continue to do so. When America takes the initiative to balance technology in the workplace, the end result will have various benefits that cannot be argued. Technology will continue to rapidly increase, but it us up to each individual to decide for themselves where their threshold of technology lies. How much “progress” are you willing to adapt to in your life? 

Works Cited

Semuels, Alana. “Millions of Americans Have Lost Jobs in the Pandemic—And Robots and AL Are Replacing Them Faster Than Ever” Time Magazine, 6 August 2020. time.com

Muro, Mark. Liu, Sifan. “Five takeaways on how technology has changed the American workforce” The Avenue, 17 November 2017. brookings.edu

Christensen, Jan Olav. Fenne, Live Bakke. Garde, Anne Helene. Nielsen, Birkeland Morten. Sørensen, Kathrine. Vleeshouwers, Jolien. “The influence of digitalization and new technologies on psychosocial work environment and employee health: a literature review” STAMI, National Institute of Occupational Health, Norway. November 2019. stami.brage.unit.no

A Colby Community Web Site, “Does Technology Actually Improve Quality of Life?” 7 February 2018. web.colby.edu 

What did you think of this essay? Did you learn anything new? What are some of your opinions about technology and "progress" in the American workplace? 

Many Blessings, 

Brooklyne Elysse