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Technology’s Impact on the American Workplace
Sarah Paris
Liberty University
Bachelor of Paralegal Studies
APA Format
ENGL 101
Professor Brian Powell
February 26, 2022
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Implementation of Technology
The use of new technology has infiltrated every area of the American workplace from
high-technology fields, such as computer programming, to industries fueled by physical effort
such as the hospitality industry and rural farms. (Purcell & Rainie, 2014). Even Amish
communities, famous for their resistance to “worldly” technology and electricity have begun to
test certain advances in farming equipment. Some have even integrated the use of phones and
computers for use in business and emergency. (Brady, 2013). Additionally, the use of technology
and its widespread availability allows workers to conduct business largely from home, an
arrangement which helps parents save money on childcare and commute costs. When utilized
correctly, an increase in technology in the workplace can increase productivity, inclusivity, global
networking, and family availability for the American worker.
Concerns on the Spread of Technology
There have been some concerns, however, regarding the negative impact technology may
have on the American workplace. Some experts have speculated that the increase in technology
will have a detrimental effect on the number of available jobs and will lead to a rise in
unemployment, particularly in fields that require little personal thought or expertise. This worry
is exampled through statistics provided by the Berkeley Economic Review, whose authors stated,
“90 percent of workers today are employed in jobs that existed 100 years ago, and only five
percent of the jobs created in the twenty-year period between 1993 and 2013 came from high
tech sectors.” (BER Staff, 2018).
Positive Impacts of Technology on the Workforce
The positive impact technology has on the American workplace is far reaching and
includes an improved work/home life balance, increased productivity, greater diversity and
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inclusivity, and a more far-reaching global market. Weir, a writer for Forbes, states, “Struggles
with work-life balance often center around being stuck in a cubicle or office for most of the day
but working remotely can empower employees with the flexibility to be productive at work while
also managing their personal lives.” (Weir, 2019).
Saving Time and Energy
The use of technology can save time and energy that would otherwise be spent on manual
labor. While slow to embrace new technology and having purposefully isolated themselves from
much of the modern world, the Amish community has found use for certain technologies in their
farming and business endeavors. While this acceptance is not automatic and takes much
deliberation on the part of individual Amish communities and groups, any level of acceptance
shows just how far-reaching technology has become and how useful it can be when used to serve
people rather than people serving it. (Brady, 2013). In this economic climate, even these rural
and privacy-loving people have found uses for technology that aid in the health and safety of
their families and the success of their business and farming endeavors.
Global Connectivity
Technology allows the international community to be easily accessible from virtually
anywhere on the globe and “without the use of digital tools, collaboration is left largely to
change and proximity. Because of evolving technology, collaboration is not reduced to a
common space or even geographical area.” (Medal, 2019). This quote by Andrew Medal of the
online magazine Entrepreneur illustrates the increased connectivity of businesses throughout the
world whose collaboration would have heretofore been all but impossible.
Diversity and Inclusivity
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In addition, advances in technology have made it possible for people with mobility
impairments, such as muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy, to earn a living for themselves and
their families in industries that were previously unavailable to them. (Burgstahler, 2012). In these
cases, technology can provide a more diverse work environment that increases the inclusivity
and productiveness of employers that implement these types of technologies into their
operations.
Negative Implications of Technological Advances
When used in these ways, technology can be an asset to the American worker’s life. The
use of technology, however, is not without its risks. Jaspar Weir from Forbes also points out that
the ability to take work home through the use of technology can cause just as many problems as
it can perks. Research done on the subject points out that “70% of the business executives
surveyed said that ‘technology brings work into their personal lives.’” (Weir, 2019). It is
understandable how such a situation can bring stress and lowered job satisfaction. When the
separation between work and personal life becomes blurred, it can become difficult for a work-
from-home employee to focus fully on one aspect of their life. Technology has allowed for great
amounts of success in the American workplace with less amounts of time and energy exerted.
However, there is anxiety amongst some that those without access to or who are unable to learn
these new technologies will be left behind in the drought of unemployment. These concerns
include the opinion that technology is being adapted to the needs of businesses and corporations
without considering the needs of the individual employees whose lives and jobs are affected by
this same technology.
Addressing These Concerns
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Many are concerned for their ability to keep up in a rapidly changing technological
world, causing high levels of anxiety and stress. (Muro & Liu, 2017). While anxiety surrounding
job security is very real, Paul Schulte and John Howard from the International Labour
Organization have observed, “Rather than thinking about entire occupations being eliminated
(that is, technology as a substitute for human labor), there is value in addressing the issue in
terms of specific tasks without occupations being automated (that is, technology as a
complement to human labor).” (Schulte & Howard, 2019). Even in cases where the rise of
technology does cause risks of unemployment, people are not without options. It comes down to
employers being aware of the effect of technology on their workers and implementing it in a way
that complements the existing workforce as illustrated by Jerry Grillo from the Georgia Institute
of Technology. He writes, “But technological complementarity—the use of automation and
artificial intelligence to complement workers, rather than replace them—is viewed optimistically
as a good thing, improving productivity and wages for those who remain employed.” (Grillo,
2021). While technology has changed the face of the workforce, causing anxiety, concern, and,
for some, a feeling of instability, people and situations are adaptable, and change is unlikely to
happen all at once but tends to take a more gradual course.
Conclusion
Technological advances have changed the face of the American workplace and impacted
every segment of business and agriculture. Overall, this change has been beneficial and has
helped increase the scope and profitability of business while providing a greater work/home life
balance for workers. There have, however, been concerns and drawbacks. Many people fear an
increase in unemployment as technology increases and the jobs of “unskilled workers”, such as
cashiers and food workers, are replaced by machines. Technology is a man-made invention and
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must be integrated into daily life with caution, but through careful utilization it can have a mostly
positive impact on the American workplace as a whole as well as in the lives of individual
workers. There is no denying that technology has reshaped the world from what it was as
recently as twenty-five years ago. Technology has increased at a speed and to an extent the baby
boomer generation could not have foreseen or imagined. The key to making the most of this new
way of life is using technology in a way that it works for the benefit of the worker rather than the
worker becoming subject to it.
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References
Purcell, K & Rainie, L (December 30, 2014) Technology’s impact on workers (Pew Research
Center) https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2014/12/30/technologys-impact-on-
workers/
Brady, J (September 2, 2013) Amish community not anti-technology, just more thoughtful (NPR)
https://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2013/09/02/217287028/amish-
community-not-anti-technology-just-more-thoughful
BER staff (November 22, 2018) (Berkeley Joblessness: the effects of technology on U.S. jobs
Economic Review) https://econreview.berkeley.edu/joblessness-the-effects-of-
technology-on-u-s-jobs/
Weir, J (March 26, 2018) Three ways technology can help with work-life balance (Forbes)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2019/03/26/three-ways-technology-can-help-with-
work-life-balance/?sh=303935083b15
Medal, A (July 3, 2019) 4 tech trends that are positively changing workplaces (Entrepreneur)
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/336142
Muro, M & Liu, S (November 17, 2017) Five takeaways on how technology has changed the
American workforce (Brookings) https://www.brookings.edu/blog/the-
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avenue/2017/11/17/five-takeaways-on-how-technology-has-changed-the-american-
workforce/
Schulte, P & Howard, J (March 09, 2019) The impact of technology on work and the workforce
(International Labour Organization)
https://www.ilo.org/safework/events/safeday/33thinkpieces/WCMS_681603/lang--
en/index.htm
Grillo, J (October 28, 2021) Technology’s impact on worker well-being (Georgia Institute of
Technology) https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/10/211028174510.htm
Burgstahler, S (2012) Working together: computers and people with mobility impairments
(University of Washington) https://www.washington.edu/doit/working-together-
computers-and-people-mobility-impairments
