The Evolution of Work and Why HR Must Adapt

This Episode explores the evolution of “work” from an anthropological and technological perspective, tracing a narrative from the dawn of the universe and human species to today’s AI-driven workplace. We examine three major eras of work - the Industrial (work as survival), Information (work as aspiration), and Social (work as meaning) - and how efficiency, mental effort, and purpose have shifted across these eras. We then discuss the urgent need for HR departments and organizations to evolve to keep pace with modern expectations, addressing the psychological resistance to change (yes, there’s a phobia for that).