I’m Ed Frauenheim, senior editor of Workforce Management. Welcome to Work in Progress, a new blog in which I will be part observer, part adviser and part provocateur. I plan to write about such issues as the “employment deal” between workers and organizations, people management strategies, labor force trends, workplace technology, and the social safety nets designed to catch displaced workers.
Consider this blog a guide to the emerging “Worthiness Era.” In a book I recently co-wrote, my co-authors and I coined that term to refer to the growing pressures on companies to behave better as employers, as sellers and as stewards of society and the planet. We argue that in the Worthiness Era, only organizations that are “good company” to their workers, customers and communities will thrive. Reciprocity and mutual benefit—rather than exploitation and greed—will rule the day.
These days, both companies and workers face big challenges. Among them are a sputtering economy, increased global competition, continued layoff fears and the emergence of powerful but sometimes problematic social media technologies.
Within this tricky terrain, Work in Progress will chart changes in the ways employers relate to their people. I’ll keep an eye on management methods—both good and bad—as well as make suggestions for how companies and workers can succeed simultaneously.
A little bit about my background. I have had firsthand labor union experience: As a union officer at the Newspaper Guild years ago, I helped establish a contract at the old ANG Newspapers chain, which included the Oakland Tribune. At the same time, I appreciate the management side of business and the positive contributions companies can make. My namesake started Iron City Brewery Co. in Pittsburgh in 1861, my grandfather was an inventor, and my father is an entrepreneur.
I’ve been a journalist for about 15 years, covering business, technology and labor issues for the past decade. I have written about workforce matters at startups, medium-size firms and the biggest companies in the world, including American Express Co., IBM Corp. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. With this experience, I hope to offer perspective on the major work issues of the day.
And I welcome your feedback and suggestions. A provocateur, ideally, prompts discussion. For Work in Progress to help work progress, it will take more than my voice alone.
