I picked up Employment Is Dead by Deborah Perry Piscione and Josh Drean because I was curious about the premise behind this book: how can we reimagine work in light of emerging technologies like AI, blockchain, and web3?

The authors make a compelling case for shifting from traditional employment agreements (what they call “employment”) towards a more decentralized, human-centric approach to work. They emphasize the distinction between these two concepts – “work” encompassing a broader range of activities, tasks, or projects undertaken for income, passion, or skill contribution.

The book seemed focused on the web3 model more: blockchain and DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations) as the future of work. It describes the ten principles of decentralized work environments:

• Partnership: Moving beyond transactional employment to value shared achievement.
• Interoperability: Using technology to ensure seamless collaboration among dispersed teams.
• Experimentation: Encouraging a culture of continuous innovation and learning.
• Ownership: Giving individuals a stake in the value they create.
• Meritocracy: Valuing contributions based on skills and achievements.
• Incentives: Aligning rewards with individual and organizational well-being.
• Upskilling: Focusing on personalized learning and diverse skill sets.
• Community: Fostering inclusivity and collaboration.
• Transparency: Communicating openly to build trust.
• Autonomy: Empowering independent decision-making.

I felt some of the advice in this book as a rehash of commonplace ideas like lifelong learning, growth mindset, personal branding.But there were a few interesting ideas that I liked:

• Developing interoperable skills that allows the ability to work with diverse teams using different tools and even languages.
• Exploring alternative credentials or ways to demonstrate skills and competencies. This includes online courses, micro-credentials, and practical experience.
• Non-fungible talent, a concept introduced by Talentpair, that refers to the creation of a unique digital résumé for each worker on the blockchain. This digital résumé is then used by AI to more effectively match workers with suitable job opportunities. This method aims to eliminate the reliance on self-reported résumés and instead ensures that all credentials are transparently and securely recorded.

To me, I felt the following ideas espoused in the book as wishful thinking:

• Sustainable Income via DAOs: The idea of “X-to-earn” is experimental, and DAOs are not yet stable, long-term employment options for the masses.
  • With cryptocurrency not being legal tender in India currently, I’m not sure what I could do even if I get some income.
• Smart Contracts as a Guarantee: While smart contracts promise trust and security, the book acknowledges their limitations in accommodating human nuances.
  • Could smart contracts be flexible enough to account for the human life experiences: falling sick or unacceptable demands?
• The “Anything Economy”: The book presents an optimistic view of the “anything economy,” where barriers to entry are lowered, and individuals can pursue diverse career paths.
  • While this vision is inspiring, practical challenges such as financial constraints and the need for foundational skills still exist.
• Decentralized Governance Models: The book suggests incorporating decentralized governance models to improve the gig worker experience.
  • Definitely something that will encounter resistance from traditional models.

Employment Is Dead provides an exploration of the transition to Work3, highlighting the need for both organisations and individuals to adapt to a decentralised, technologically advanced, and human-centric future. For organisations, it provides a roadmap to embrace decentralisation and flexibility, invest in upskilling, and prioritise transparency, communication, and employee well-being. For individuals, it encourages seeking autonomy, developing interoperable skills, and integrating societal considerations into their professional lives.

Connections to other books:

• Employment Is Dead 📕 emphasizes technological solutions and organizational adaptation, while The Good Enough Job 📕 focuses on cultural shifts and individual well-being.