The future of work: pivotal decisions for society

Technological and social change is inevitable, and a smart society should shape its future, ideally through broadly-based and well-informed discussion. Technology is likely to unravel the ‘work trilogy’ (of task, pay, esteem) and we have the option to construct new socially-relevant alternatives, to take a laissez-faire approach, or to resist and attempt to maintain the status quo. Technology may reduce traditional employment opportunities, and its impact depends on the social response to maintain an egalitarian society. How do we as a society, agree on and progress towards the future society we desire, particularly as our politics tends towards shorter time-frames and personalities, rather than substance and long-term goals?