Companies have to care The automation conundrum What it means for workers In the Green World, corporate responsibility isn’t Automation and technology are an essential Employees enjoy family-friendly, flexible hours 23% just a nice‑to‑have – it’s a business imperative. element of the Green World as they help and are encouraged to take part in socially‑ say ‘doing a job that Companies are open, collaborative organisations to protect scarce resources and minimise useful projects. They trust their employer to treat makes a difference’ that see themselves as playing an essential role environmental damage. them fairly in terms of pay, development and is most important to in developing their employees and supporting conditions and in return are expected to reflect local communities. Technology is used extensively to replace the the culture of the company in their approach their career. need for travel, driving rapid innovation in and behaviour. PwC survey of 10,029 members Reacting to public opinion, increasingly scarce communications technology. of the general population based in natural resources and stringent international The high ethical standards to which companies China, Germany, India, the UK and regulations, companies push a strong ethical and But the question of where people fit into the are held has cascaded down to employees; the US green agenda. This is characterised by a strong automated Green World looms large. Technology conduct and ethics are taken very seriously at social conscience, a sense of environmental is a double‑edged sword for Green World work and performance is assessed against a wide responsibility, a focus on diversity, human rights employers – it allows them to meet their ethical range of measures, including how efficiently and fairness of all kinds and a recognition that and environmental agenda, but at what cost workers manage their travel and resources. business has an impact that goes well beyond to humans? the financial. Trust is the basic currency underpinning business and employment. Companies have to place their societal purpose at the heart of their commercial strategy. 21