This is what the future of work will look like, survey says

In a survey aimed at identifying trends shaping the “future of work,” Adobe asked more than 2,000 office workers from the U.S., Britain and India a series of questions about their work habits, motivations and sense of fulfillment.

The responses painted a picture of employees who, in spite of feeling overwhelmed by their jobs, reported greater happiness and sense of opportunity when working at more than one job, for longer hours and with “state-of-the-art technology.”

The on-demand economy typically refers to companies that let users summon workers via smartphone apps to perform various services including driving, cleaning, chores, deliveries, car parking, waiting in lines and more.

According to a Stanford University survey about the work life of independent contractors for on-demand startups, many workers reported lower pay and more rigid hours than they had hoped for when they began moonlighting.

[...] technology outranked other office perks like free food and drinks; sleek, new office spaces; and on-site amenities like the gyms and game rooms for which Bay Area tech offices are known.

“Employers may be focusing too much on pingpong tables and free dry cleaning, instead of technology that helps their employees feel motivated, valued and productive,” Adobe vice president of global talent Jeff Vijungco said in a statement.

Nearly as many workers who said state-of-the-art technology was key to their productivity and happiness also said public health would worsen as people become more attached to technology and mobile devices.

Millennials, from the generation typically defined as those born between 1980 and 2000, were the most likely group to say advanced technology was essential to creating an ideal workplace, but they also preferred in-person communication and believed themselves to be the most at-risk to being replaced by machines.