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ONE IN THREE CANADIANS SEE TECHNOLOGY
AS A THREAT TO THEIR JOBS
Is your job under threat from computerization? According to the
latest Randstad Workmonitor study, which surveys employees in
33 countries around the world, one in four Canadians believe their
jobs could vanish in a few years due to the rise of technology.
Advancements in technology have always threatened certain
industries. From giant corporations to university libraries and
start-up businesses, employers are using rapidly improving tech-nology
and workers are concerned they will be competing against
machines that will continue to become more powerful, cheaper
and easier to use. The survey found 68 per cent of Canadians see
the impact of technology as an opportunity, while 32 per cent see
it as a potential threat.
According to Tom Turpin, president of Randstad Canada,
although some jobs may disappear over time because of technolog-ical
advancements, innovation can offer exciting and stimulating
opportunities in all types of industries.
“As an example, computerization may have reduced the demand
for typists and switchboard operators, but also increased the num-ber
of more highly skilled and computer savvy administrative
assistants,” said Turpin. “Technology has also burgeoned entirely
new industries and occupations such as app designers, digital mar-keting
specialists, big data architects or social media managers.”
So what can be done to help workers ride the wave of techno-logical
change? According to Turpin, these facts and figures do not
need to be treated as doom and gloom, but instead, should make
us more aware of skills necessary for future work.
THE MOST OVERUSED BUZZWORDS AND
PHRASES IN THE WORKPLACE
While today’s workplace is awash with buzzwords and clichés,
certain terms and phrases are more common than others, ac-cording
to an Accountemps survey of HR managers. “Dynamic,”
“deep dive” and “leverage” were among the most overused busi-ness
buzzwords cited by those polled.
The survey was conducted by an independent research firm
and is based on interviews with more than 600 HR managers
at U.S. and Canadian companies with 20 or more employees.
“When it comes to effective communication in the work-place,
the importance of clarity cannot be stressed enough,”
said Dianne Hunnam-Jones, Canadian district president of
Accountemps. “To avoid ambiguity and confusion when com-municating,
the use of buzzwords and industry jargon should
be avoided in favour of straightforward and uncomplicated
language.”
Pongsuwan/Shutterstock
HRPATODAY.CA ❚ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 ❚ 9
