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Rayyan Haq
Mrs. Settle
AP Seminar – 1st
16 October 2023
Computer Technology: Advancing the American Workforce
Word Count: 1320
Introduction
43% of U.S. workers detail that they work remotely part of the time (Mann). This is due
to the rise in computer technology and the internet, something that, despite being relatively new,
is considered as a norm of today. However, the recent surge of technology has impacted almost
every aspect of daily life, especially the workplace (Hearing and Ussery, Part I). Understanding
its influence in the workplace allows society to continue our development towards increased
work productivity while maintaining positive social relationships and increasing the overall
quality of life. Due to rapid advancement of computer technology in the American workforce
since the creation of the internet, a further social analysis of the causes, issues, and viable
solutions is necessary to pave the route that we, as a society, are heading toward.
Workplace Advancement and Privacy Infringement
The advancement of computer technology has led to smart workplaces that run more
efficiently than before. Major changes include the switch from desktop computers to portable
laptops, that have wireless capabilities and utilize a seemingly unending supply of mobile
Internet access (Hearing and Ussery, Part I), and the replacement of storage from floppy discs to
thumb drives and eventually to the cloud (Mann). These examples are mere droplets in the ocean
of technological advances over the past few decades. Because of these, mundane tasks that once
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took time have been eliminated, and there is increased productivity, enhanced connectivity,
improved access to information, and cost savings. However, Gregory A. Hearing and Brian C.
Ussery explain that employers can potentially invade privacy by monitoring electronic
communications or data of employees, such as emails and internet use, which can raise concerns
about privacy infringement, particularly regarding the Fourth Amendment (Hearing and Ussery,
Part II). One major issue with everything being so easily accessible and connected is an
employer’s ability to monitor and invade the privacy of their workers, especially in cases where
the worker uses a company-provided electronic device. Despite company workarounds under the
law, unreasonable search without employee consent or legitimate business need can be seen as a
violation of the Fourth Amendment, protecting citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures.
Fortunately, in recent times, numerous states have implemented legislation with the intention of
safeguarding employees' privacy rights concerning electronic communications within the work
environment; for example, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) and the Stored
Communications Act (SCA) were passed by Congress, clarifying federal privacy protections in
response to advancements in computer and telecommunications technologies such as restricting
unauthorized access to stored communications (Hearing and Ussery, Part II). While this is a
good foundation, many more laws and regulations must be implemented to challenge and
pressure company workarounds to achieve true change. Despite these challenges computer
technology has, without a doubt, revolutionized the American workplace, making it more
productive and efficient.
Enhancing Employee Well-being
The same way that changing dirty water in a fish’s tank affects the fish, technologically
advancing the workplace influences the primary stakeholder, the workers. According to the
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conference board, a research organization conducting annual job satisfaction surveys since 1987,
U.S. job satisfaction hit its highest levels in 2022, standing at 62.3 percent being content
(Mayer). Caitlin Duffy, director of the Gartner HR practice, gives credit to the adoption of hybrid
and remote jobs by many organizations (Mayer). Employees are now able to work more
comfortably, expand their opportunities, and pursue a role that meets their interests and
preferences since they are not confined by geographical availability (Mayer). Nikki Blacksmith
and Tiffany Poeppelman, from The Industrial-Organizational Psychologist, suggest that as
organizations adopt these technological advances, they are more likely to establish a work
environment characterized by increased flexibility and adaptability; such a workplace can offer
employees greater control over their work arrangements and schedules, ultimately fostering
improved worker satisfaction, contentment, and happiness in their roles (Blacksmith and
Poeppelman, Application of Modern Technology). In this way, technology serves as a catalyst,
enabling workers to balance enjoyable activities in their personal lives and allowing them to
work when they are at their best, hence resulting in better-quality work, improving their mental
health and quality of life. In addition to enhancing the lives of workers outside the workplace,
Blacksmith and Poeppelman explore how computer technology trends have been shown to
enhance worker convenience and mental well-being in the workplace. They discuss improved
candidate assessment and ethical technology use in decision-making, ultimately aiming for better
work experience (Blacksmith and Poeppelman, Past, Present, and Future). For example,
utilizing simulations and virtual reality to improve candidate assessment by providing realistic
job previews or looking at big data analysis to easily assess trends and act upon them
(Blacksmith and Poeppelman, Past, Present, and Future). With such a vast array of functions for
technology, the workplace has become much more convenient for workers, allowing them to
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strain less on the tedious tasks and focus more on the heavy thinking. Whether they work in or
out of the office, workers can harness the power of technology to not only elevate their
professional lives but also enrich their personal well-being, creating a harmonious work-life
balance.
Telecommunication and Social Disconnection
One of the most impactful and transformative forms of computer technology in the
workplace is telecommunication. It is utilized all the time, from small texts to entire telephone
webs. According to Christian Heath, "Personnel in [various working] domains are responsible
for co-ordinating a complex array of [both] co-located and distributed activities... [They use a
wide range of] communication devices (such as touch screen telephones, radio, and alarms).
They are 'multimedia' environments par excellence" (Heath et. al. 311). Heath highlights the use
of telecommunication devices such as telephones and radios in work environments where
personnel coordinate activities. These devices play a crucial role in facilitating communication
and collaboration among individuals responsible for different tasks inside and outside of the
workplace. However, increased technology and telecommunication access have hindered the
next line of workers’ in-person communication skills, as Generation Z grew up in the electronic
communication era and lacks the interpersonal complexity developed by previous generations
through face-to-face interactions (Mann). This problem is best addressed by David Hakken,
professor of anthropology, who states, “The notion that computing has certain natural social
impacts marginalizes our role in developing computing systems. We become like the Human
Relations psychologist, compelled to see work problems as arising elsewhere, so the job is to
help the worker adapt to, not change, her situation” (Hakken 125). If one assumes that computers
simply change society, they become negligent of their true impact, which is what is causing the
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current issue behind Generation Z’s lack of interpersonal skills due to unprecedented electronic
communication. Hakken follows up by stating, “Cultural study of the problem of new
technology, work, and social change means framing the issue holistically, recognizing that the
interrelationships must be placed in, not technically abstracted from, an appropriate context”
(Hakken 127). Addressing social disconnection and the decline in interpersonal skills requires
holistic strategies such as comprehensive digital literacy programs, cultural sensitivity, and
offline social activities. Telecommunication, as propelling as it has been for the workforce, could
set the workplace back if not used in moderation.
Conclusion
Given the rapid technological advancements in the American workforce, society must
now socially examine the causes, issues, and solutions to chart the path forward. The
advancement of technology has made the workplace more convenient, enhanced worker
wellbeing, and developed telecommunication. However, to counter the issues regarding company
privacy infringement and social disconnection, a stronger legislative framework and a social
literacy plan must be enacted. Unfortunately, these are not sure solutions, as companies will
always have their workarounds, and there cannot be any guarantees of responsible technology
usage. Overall, technology has still proven to be more than effective in advancing the workplace,
and if boundaries and solutions can be implemented now, it will continue to evolve us in an
upward direction.
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Works Cited
Blacksmith, Nikki, and Tiffany Poeppelman. “Application of Modern Technology and Social
Media in the Workplace.” TIP: The Industrial-Organizational Psychologist, vol. 51, no. 1,
July 2013, pp. 69–73. EBSCOhost,
search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=asn&AN=91533596&site=ehost- live.
Blacksmith, Nikki, and Tiffany Poeppelman. “Past, Present, and Future of Technology and Social
Media in the Workplace.” TIP: The Industrial-Organizational Psychologist, vol. 53, no. 4,
Apr. 2016, pp. 83–91. EBSCOhost,
search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=asn&AN=114343667&site=ehost live.
Hakken, D. “COMPUTING AND SOCIAL CHANGE: New Technology and Workplace
Transformation, 1980-1990.” Annual Review of Anthropology, vol. 22, no. 1, Oct. 1993,
pp. 107–32. EBSCOhost, https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.an.22.100193.000543.
Hearing, Gregory A., and Brian C. Ussery. “The Times They Are a Changin’: The Impact of
Technology and Social Media on the Public Workplace, Part I.” Florida Bar Journal, vol.
86, no. 3, Mar. 2012, pp. 35–39. EBSCOhost,
search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=asn&AN=74092943&site=ehost- live.
Hearing, Gregory A., and Brian C. Ussery. “The Times They Are a Changin’: The Impact of
Technology and Social Media on the Public Workplace, Part II.” Florida Bar Journal, vol.
86, no. 4, Apr. 2012, pp. 20–24. EBSCOhost,
search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=asn&AN=74110335&site=ehost- live.
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Heath, Christian, et al. “Technology and Social Interaction: The Emergence of ‘Workplace
Studies.’” British Journal of Sociology, vol. 51, no. 2, June 2000, pp. 299–320.
EBSCOhost, https://doi.org/10.1080/00071310050030190.
Mann, John M. “Changes in the Workplace in the Last 20 Years.” The Alexander Group, The
Alexander Group, 26 June 2019, tagsearch.com/insights/articles/changes-in-theworkplace-in-the-last-20years#:~:text=By%20far%2C%20the%20majority%20of,in%20the%20last%2020%20ye
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Mayer, Kathryn. “Job Satisfaction at a High Thanks to Work/Life Balance Strides.” Society for
Human Resource Management, Society for Human Resource Management, 13 May
2023, www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/benefits/pages/employee-jobsatisfaction-new-high-conference-board.aspx.