Opinion: How we work now
Is there a kind of work in America that hasn’t changed dramatically over the last 20 years? We’d love to hear from you if you can think of one, but in most fields, the pace of change has been dizzying.
Jobs have been off-shored or automated. Sales have moved to the Internet. The Cloud has replaced filing cabinets and freelance gigs have replaced careers. Technology is one primary driver, of course. Globalization, with its attendant economic realities, is another. The changes have been in many cases positive, even exhilarating. Information is instantly accessible and communication has never been easier.
But for many Americans, work in the 21st century feels chaotic, and the turmoil is affecting both individuals and the structure of families and communities.
Has your work changed in recent years? Tell us about it by email at laborpains@latimes.com or on Twitter at #latlaborpains.
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Ted Rall draws a weekly editorial cartoon cartoonist for The Times.
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The electronic medical record is the latest wrench the healthcare industry has thrown in the way of doctors just listening to their patients.
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iTunes helps a DIY musician make a living. But what the Internet gives, it can also take away.
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A memorial service, unlike a funeral, is notable for the absence of the dead.
