Public call for evidence

The Changing Work Centre is a joint research initiative set up by Community and the Fabian Society, looking to develop and champion progressive ideas for the modern world of work. The centre undertakes research on the changing world of work, what it means for workers today and into the future, and how government, employers and trade unions should respond.

Submit Evidence

The following questions are derived from the Commission’s terms of reference and relate to the UK context. You may choose to answer all, or some, of the questions and you may wish to respond with regard to your specific sector/industry or in general terms.

We are seeking responses from all interested parties, including employers, trade unions, academics, think tanks, and public bodies.

1. What technological changes are likely to have the greatest impact, in terms of both opportunities and challenges, on workers in Britain between now and 2030?

2. How can technological change be best managed and promoted so as to have a positive effect for workers?

Issues you might address:

  • Adopting technology to create better jobs
  • Support for workers to adapt and re-train
  • Worker involvement in change
  • Trade union/employer partnerships
  • Workforce productivity
  • National public policy
  • Local and regional leadership
  • Sectoral leadership
  • Interaction with other trends (e.g. de-carbonising industry, population ageing)

3. How might technological change affect models of work and working practices, and how can workers’ rights be best protected?

Issues you might address:

  • New models of trade unionism
  • Employment relations and rights at work
  • Worker participation or control (including changes to business governance models)

4. As the disruptive effects of technological change on workers are likely to have a disproportionate effect upon certain groups and areas, what particular attention is required to ensure that the positive effects of new technologies are distributed across the workforce?

Issues you might address:

  • Jobs in which high numbers of women are employed
  • Different parts of the country
  • Workers aged over 45
  • People with few or obsolete skills

5. What best practice globally and in the UK should the Commission learn from to ensure that the challenges of technological change are handled effectively?

How to respond and general guidance

  • We are especially interested in understanding models of best practice in the area. If you are engaged in schemes that seek to ensure that technological change benefits working practices and conditions, then please include details with your response.
  • Please submit your response to this call as an email – or as a Word Document attachment to an email – to Josh.Abey@fabians.org.uk.
  • Please include your full name and contact details in your submission and detail whether you are responding as an individual or on behalf of an organisation.
  • If your submission is over 1500 words, please include a summary of your key points at the beginning of your submission.

Further information about the commission can be found here.

Learn more about who the commissioners are here.