Perspectives on the Future of Work: June 6

Upwork’s weekly column brings you the latest news on hiring and working with freelancers, freelancing, and the future of work.

Forbes ǀ Work Longer Hours to Achieve Work/Life Balance?

A think tank of expert panelists predict that in five to 10 years, we’re probably going to work more—in hopes of achieving work/life balance. So how does working more accomplish that

One theory is flexibility. Author David Carr says we’ll likely opt to spend less time in actual offices, and more time working at home and in coffee shops—planning that time around other commitments. When you add up all of that time, it could exceed the typical 40-50 hour week many office workers currently log.

Kate Kendall, CEO and founder of CloudPeeps, also suggests we’ll work more because we like it, “We will be working more for ourselves – working on things we are passionate about.” Or our definition of work could change to include work outside of company time, such as volunteering for a nonprofit or working on a freelance project. So, while we could create longer work weeks, our efforts may expand to include more personal pursuits.

But what about all of the technology that’s supposed to make our life more efficient? Constellation Research analyst Alan Lepofsky says technology doesn’t make us work less. It makes us work on the right things.

The Guardian ǀ Lawyers Ditch Stuffy Offices by Freelancing

Freelancing isn’t new for lawyers. As Tess Reidy reports, clients have been saving by going to freelancing marketplaces like Lawyers On Demand, Axiom, and Vario for years. However, the number of independent lawyers—and demand for them—has boomed over the last three years. Tom Hartley, managing director of Lawyers On Demand explains, “The freelance path is now seen as attractive and aspirational; it enables lawyers to work for big names like Google, Barclays and Vodafone on their own terms.”

The growing trend is a reminder that lawyers have other interests too, and they want to enjoy them more. Kay Ma, who is part of an in-house legal team for a global company, chose to go freelance so she could spend more time on building up her novelty cake-making business. “A lot of freelance solicitors are good lawyers – and something else. I can be a serious lawyer and have other interests without feeling like I am committing adultery on my career.”

David Wides, a commercial lawyer, couldn’t stand being tied to an office. As a freelancer, “I get to decide what trips I want to do and I plan my work around them. Before, I was always worrying whether my work would allow me time to take holidays at all, and I was worried about the pile of work waiting for me on my return. With freelancing this isn’t an issue.”

CIO ǀ Remote Project Teams Work…But It’s Not for Everyone

There’s no doubt virtual teams work. Many successful startups either run fully distributed, or they rely on remote teams. Although the web is full of success stories romanticizing the freedom of working from home in your bunny slippers, it’s not for everyone. As a project manager, you’ve got to be experienced to make it work.

As consultant and author Brad Egeland explains, to succeed with a remote team you must possess superior organizational skills, be extremely disciplined, and your team should feel your confidence pouring across the internet. You also need to be able to pick up on signs that someone’s not working out and be able to take the appropriate actions from a distance. That’s especially difficult when you can’t see the person live to observe work habits, or read body language for cues that you’re making the right decision.

If you’ve got the chops to make it work, Egeland says remote teams can provide several benefits. In today’s talent shortage, he notes, one critical benefit is the ability to go outside of your locale to find the best talent—many times at a savings.

What changes have you noticed in the way we work? Tell us about them in the comments below!

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