The Story

Human Values Belong in the Workplace

Work, In Progress is a call on the working world to become more human, and a fascinating discovery of how employment has lost its way over the past 60 years. Looking at the cultural dynamics that influence society now, and the aspirations of the next big working generation, the author looks to nature to focus on the two areas that will bring healthy human values back to the workplace: security and purpose. It opens your eyes to the way work should work.

There is a current frustration among employees the world over with the unhealthy values that have poisoned the working world. We have learned to live a “split personality” existence, where we teach our kids to pursue healthy values (be caring, honest, trustworthy, reliable, fair), and then go to work and employ the values of deceit, ruthlessness, dishonesty, and so forth. The big influences in society today such as social media, mobility, celebrity, and so forth, have the potential to further this divide, and to ultimately lead us down a path where unhealthy values reign.

Thanks to the growing influence of Millennials, we are reaching a tipping where a change to the corporate operating paradigm in unavoidable. However, many companies are governed by pressures that have created structures and cultures that make it very difficult to foster healthy human values.

Work, In Progress addresses this pain point and shows how companies can focus on the two areas that can have the biggest impact – security & purpose – and explores the various ways that these areas can be implemented. It uses the parallel between plants and humans to introduce new employment ideas that will allow workers to thrive, and companies to be ready for the working paradigm of the near future. Work, In Progress is an inspiring read for anyone who heads to work and says, “I deserve better”.