Our Q4 cultural almanac is here to wrap up the year that was.

To help get you primed for the start of 2019 and our coming Q1 almanac in January, we’ll be sharing one chapter from the Q4 each week.

Enjoy this preview of our chapter on the Workplace (R)Evolution. And if you like what you see, pre-order ZEITGUIDE 2019 to continue to receive these insights throughout the year ahead.

THE EMPLOYEE REVOLUTION

 
We noted at the start of the year that while efforts have been made to make work environments more fun and collaborative, the real work for businesses is addressing the larger issues plaguing the office.

In the wake of #MeToo, businesses embraced transparency and self-examined the behavior of leaders and employees. CEOs have begun to make their voices heard on key political issues like gun control and the environment. And in the ever-important race to offer the best possible employee experience (EX), businesses are doing more to create workplaces that offer flexibility and improved work-life balance.

Now, we’re seeing an even greater revolution arising as employees, demanding to make their voices heard, grow more empowered. Here are the prime areas where we’re seeing workers pushing back on their employers.
 
READ MORE IN OUR FREE EXCERPT FROM Q4: WORKPLACE (R)EVOLUTION
 

A TALE OF TWO GIG ECONOMIES

 
At the start of the year, we noted how jobs that don’t fit the traditional nine-to-five are becoming the norm for more and more workers. And in fact, recent reporting by Gallup finds that 36 percent of Americans earn income as part of the gig economy or some other type of non-traditional work arrangement.

Not all gig work is created equal, however. That 36 percent includes on-demand gig workers like Uber drivers and Postmates delivery persons, as well as freelance workers who might be well compensated for their particular expertise.

On the one hand, those with in-demand expertise are taking advantage of the gig economy for greater flexibility and freedom. On the other, the gig economy also has individuals doing less-skilled, on-demand labor often for less than minimum wage and with none of the benefits or security that come with traditional employment. Gallup’s research describes this as a “tale of two gig economies.”
 
READ MORE IN OUR FREE EXCERPT FROM Q4: WORKPLACE (R)EVOLUTION
 

THE C-SUITE BUBBLE

 
At the start of the year, we noted how chief marketing officers, occupying the most tenuous position in the C-suite, have been undergoing somewhat of an identity crisis. For instance, we observed efforts to tie marketing to growth by blending the CMO role with the responsibilities of the chief revenue officer, thus forging the chief growth officer.

Since then, we’ve seen a number of other C-suite roles subject to this kind of title tinkering as companies work to keep pace with rapid changes in business, culture and consumers. Here are a few that have stood out to us.
 
READ MORE IN OUR FREE EXCERPT FROM Q4: WORKPLACE (R)EVOLUTION
 

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ZEITGUIDE is your guide to the zeitgeist, German for “spirit of the times”: The go-to source business and creative leaders rely on to stay smart, culturally relevant and ahead of the future. We keep you up to speed on the constant shifts impacting your business and lead you towards what’s next. Contact us if you would like us to produce learning programs and content customized to your needs.