Emerging Technologies at Work: Policy Ideas to Address Negative Consequences for Work, Workers, and Society

By Diane E. Bailey; Blog by Reed Eaglesham

In the first article of the ILR Review’s new series on “Novel Technologies at Work”, Diane Bailey provides a critical view on conventional wisdom that technological change is an unstoppable force—a wave of “creative destruction.” Mark Zuckerberg’s motto of “move fast and break things” crystalizes this idea. So, when emerging technologies have negative consequences, many feel powerless to alter these tsunamis of invention. According to Bailey, however, this does not need to be the case. But first we need to understand the problem at hand.

Bailey particularly highlights the concerns of workers. While mass media has touched on issues such as mass unemployment caused by artificial intelligence (AI), worker surveillance, and inequality wrought by algorithmic management, they do not cover the extent to which emerging technologies affect workers.

Whereas mass unemployment due to AI is still a potential concern, the impact of digital platforms on employer-employee relationships is already here. Digital platforms have allowed companies like Uber to avoid basic worker protections and take the place of management. Workers are evaluated based on algorithms they do not fully understand; and the vast amount of data collected can be used to set finely tuned performance metrics and to discipline workers. These metrics may set dangerously highs standards that eat away at worker autonomy and lead to heightened exhaustion and anxiety, undermining worker health and safety.

Past technological innovation typically affected only one industry, for example, the invention of the tractor in agriculture. Now, however, as technologies become more interlinked, blending both the physical and the digital, innovations in one space can affect virtually all industries and occupations. The use of drones has spread from the military to farmers and real estate agents. New technologies invade our privacy more than ever—as in the LAPD’s use of data from Papa John’s and Pizza Hut in algorithmic software to find names, addresses, and phone numbers.

Are these changes inevitable? According to Bailey, not necessarily. She recommends five policy ideas that could mitigate the negative effects of emerging technologies.

1. Encourage Workers and Civilians to Get Involved in Technology Selection, Development, Design, Implementation, and Use. Policy debates around technology and the workforce are common in Europe.

2. Mandate Experimentation. We test vehicles before they go on the road, and companies already run experiments on their software. We can increase requirements and transparency.

3. Demand Workforce Impact Reports. Companies are already required to file environmental impact reports before beginning a project; this way we could better understand the potential impact these technologies could have on workers.

4. Create a Governmental, Institutional Infrastructure for Technology Planning. Innovation is often supported by government. With appropriate leadership, we can allocate funding and expertise to best serve the technological interests of the people.

5. Spread the Technology Base Geographically. Why does all tech invention need to take place in hubs like Silicon Valley? Technology is already being adopted in rural areas through farming, and a wider base of talent can offer better insights and offer high-wage skilled jobs for rural communities.

Unions in Europe have long been involved in debates over the influence of technology in the workplace, we test vehicles before they go on the road, and companies are required to submit environmental reports before starting projects. No compelling reason stops us from doing the same with these emerging technologies. How we develop, implement, and use technology, with the help of public policy, can be founded upon human choice and agency.