We have a monthly newsletter called the Monthly Re/Work where we share the latest news, insights, and online conversations around the future of the workforce as we know it. It gives our readers access to exclusive content, interviews with industry leaders, and early access to upcoming events. If you'd like to join us head over to our Re/Work page and sign up!

We also wanted to keep all of these insights in one place so that any new members could see our previous months' updates. Check out our updates below to get a look into what you've missed and to have one source for all of your news about the future of work.

November 2022

📊 Industry News & Insights

• Time tracking is no longer effective, employee engagement is at an all-time low, and businesses have no idea how to handle these changes. Here's what this means for the future of work. 
• We hosted a webinar series where we invited future of work and contingent work thought leaders to join our panels. Here are our top six takeaways. 
• Remote and hybrid work setups have become the norm. Here are the five ways that will redefine the future of work in the years to come. 

💬 What People Are Talking About

• The approachability of social media and content creation paired with mass layoffs and record-high inflation, has created the perfect space for side hustles to flourish. In fact, Prudential Financial found that 77% of Millennials were either thinking about or actively seeking out a gig just to get by. But will these workers fall for the autonomy and flexibility of independent work and eventually quit their full-time jobs like so many others? Only time will tell 👀
• More and more companies are looking to expand their DEI efforts, but are these initiatives inclusive of all their workers? As companies scale external talent at unprecedented levels, it is absolutely necessary to get a holistic picture of the *entire* workforce to make real change—and that includes contingent workers ⚡
• If you’ve heard anything about Twitter lately, it’s likely been paired with billionaire Elon Musk, who recently acquired the social media platform. And he didn’t sneak in quietly, he stormed into the HQ to shake things up. Just this month, the company has seen mass layoffs and mass quitting which reportedly left the company with around 2,300 full-time employees (down from around 7,500 before his purchase). All this to say: If you’re looking to boost talent retention and engagement, maybe don’t remove the policy around flexible work and then provide a harsh and last-minute ultimatum?! 🤐

📹 Exclusive Content

Earlier this month, we hosted our first-ever Worksome World Tour event in NYC and it was nothing short of incredible 👏The event featured an impressive panel of experts from SIA, Littler Mendelson, and Petrol Agency to talk all things external workforce innovation! Check out the full recording below ⤵️

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r37vAmGolYE

October 2022

📊 Industry News & Insights

• Even amidst inflation, freelancers cite meaningful work as top consideration when looking at contingent work
• The freelance world is continually changing. Here are the top 7 stats you should be aware of if you manage an external workforce 
• Navigating the quiet evolution of contingent workforce management is challenging. Learn how to do it and become a leader. 
• Managing contingent workers abroad comes with its own set of challenges and opportunities. Check them out here. 

💬 What People Are Talking About

• This just in: Hustle culture is still alive and well—just ask TikTok. The social platform’s latest trend is the “5-to-9” which takes morning routines to a whole new, elevated level. But is that idea hurting mental health and boundaries by promoting an unrealistic level of perfectionism and productivity (an interesting take here)? 💯
• Harvard Business Review recently revisited the age-old question: passion vs. pay? Yes, it’s empowering to go after the career you want, but it may not always result in your dream financial situation. And vice versa. But perhaps there’s a strategy to getting both! 🤑
• The U.S. Worker Classification convo is back on the rise with the Department of Labor’s latest proposal around the gig economy. But what exactly does this mean for freelancers? We like Matthew Mottola’s angle: It doesn’t hurt the freelancer economy, but it could potentially hinder freelancer flexibility (hint hint: that’s not a good thing!) 👎

September 2022

📊 Industry News & Insights

• If you’re based in the UK, you’ve probably already heard that IR35 reforms will be repealed in April of 2023. Here’s what that change could mean for you and your business.
• With inflation continuing to rise—and therefore the cost of living—the Great Resignation shows no signs of slowing down, as more and more workers leave their current situation for better pay.
• Return to office conversations are picking back up again, but workers are pushing back. In fact, half of Americans think they’ll leave their jobs within the next year, citing flexibility as one of the main reason why. 

💬 What People Are Talking About

• At this point, we’ve all read up on the “quiet quitting” conversation—and let’s be honest, there are mixed feelings. Some are blaming employees for doing this out of laziness, while others (like in this post) believe that it’s really the fault of companies. We tend to agree with the latter because after all, great employees will stay engaged at truly great workplaces ✨
• And the same goes for contingent workers, too. While contractors and freelancers aren’t fully reliant on your company and culture, they can still feel the halo effect of how you treat your workers. And fun fact: The better you treat them, the better the work will be. Just look at this freelancer who is praising their client for being top-notch 👏
• Bloomberg, Fortune and others have been reporting on the fact that the four-day workweek is—well—working! And it’s not just the employees who love it. Nearly 80% of leaders and bosses involved in a U.K. pilot program said the transition was good or “seamless.” Flexible working continues to win, folks 🚀

📹 Exclusive Content

Earlier this month, we launched a brand-new series called “What’s the word on?” featuring thought leaders in the industry and their take on various topics. And of course, you can’t talk about the future of work without talking with Bryan Peña. Here he is sharing a short anecdote on why engaging external talent is so important ⤵️ 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgHqhMGLU38

August 2022

📊 Industry News & Insights

• Layoffs and hiring freezes may be on the rise, but external workers could see a boost instead—according to Bloomberg, more than 75% of U.S. companies plan to turn to freelancers to keep work afloat during a potential recession.
• Most companies that are managing external workers are using wildly outdated systems to do so. This is damaging to your business—here’s what you can do about it. 
• We asked freelancers around the globe what their priorities are when it comes to work—and the survey results can help your company craft a better experience for your external workforce.

💬 What People Are Talking About

• Traditional freelance marketplaces like Upwork and Fiverr don’t always provide the best experience for freelancers, at least according to this popular post. There are long wait times, a lack of transparency on who clients are, and it’s not built to foster long-term relationships. LinkedIn, on the other hand, gives them a chance to build their personal brand and network, so opportunities roll in easier. This paired with Worksome is 🗝️ to finding good gigs!
• The New York Times connected with people who quit their jobs during “The Great Resignation” and the article instantly became popular. Why? Because many, many people flooded the comments either relating to the stories and feelings shared or they fantasized about following that path themselves. TL;DR Expect the external workforce boom to continue 💥
• Malcolm Gladwell recently bashed remote workers: “If you’re just sitting in your pajamas in your bedroom, is that the work life you want to live?” and the internet was not happy. In fact, many Twitter users called him out for previously praising the work-from-home setup. Our take? Let’s stop trying to go back to the way things were and start embracing the future of work 🚀

📹 Exclusive Content

Starting in September, we will be launching a brand-new series called “What’s the word on?” featuring thought leaders in the industry and their take on various topics. But before it’s live, we wanted to give you all a lil’ sneak peek!

Here’s our very own Morten Bruun (industry leader also featured in Forbes 30 under 30) talking about the current world of work ⤵️

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teRy08VRF_I

July 2022

📊 Industry News & Insights

• Recession fears may be looming, but how is that impacting the job market? CNBC shares why hiring is still hot as ever.
• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a shocking 40% of the current workforce is contingent. So, we rounded up some current trends and expected predictions in our Rise of the Contingent Workforce report.
• According to a recent Gallup study, 60% of people are emotionally detached at work and 19% are miserable. It’s more important now, than ever, to manage your workers better and engage them regularly—here’s how.
• It’s official: the end of traditional freelance marketplaces is here. Find out how old-school gig platforms are putting your business at risk.
• The external workforce is growing—but so is corporate confusion on how to manage it. In The Worksome Playbook we outline how an all-in-one management tool can benefit your entire organization, and the different departments that power it.

💬 What People Are Talking About

• External talent and contingent workers are frustrated with clients who diminish their value—or even moreso, don’t pay them on time. How do we know this? Because they are feeling more empowered to vocalize what they need. This is just an example. And a reminder to value and respect *all* of your workers, and keep your contracts and payments organized.
• On the flip side, we’ve also seen lots of external talent humble—and not-so-humble—brag about how transitioning to a more flexible working style has changed their life (read: more money, more time, more happiness). Life isn’t all about work, and that’s okay. Kudos to the companies promoting a human-first culture via an agile workforce.
• Beyonce’s summer hit “Break My Soul” garnered attention for more than just its surprise drop—it’s become an anthem for people’s burnout and what some are even deeming as the theme song of The Great Resignation. But, we like Entrepreneur’s take: It’s really about the ‘changing times for corporate culture,’ and companies need to take note.

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