worker at screen with text projected onto face

Future of work, technology and data

Campaigning for better work for all in the new normal

Technology, data and the pandemic are transforming work. The growing use of technology and data analytics, along with more remote working, is also transforming the relationship between workers and employers.

Prospect’s Future of Work activity looks at how tech, artificial intelligence, data and automation are changing how we are managed and the work we do.

The core of this is about worker voice and ensuring that unions are fully involved in shaping our future:

  • Negotiating for collective data rights at work and effective regulation to protect and safeguard our data.
  • Championing a Right to Disconnect, to tackle the ‘always-on’ culture and blurred boundaries between work and our personal lives.
  • Ensuring limits to surveillance and monitoring software.
  • Making sure skills and training are available.
  • Developing our own data tools and resources.

Prospect is also the union for people who work in tech. So if you work in software, coding, data analysis, AI, engineering or any other part of tech in the public or private sector, we’re the union for you. Find out more about our offer for tech workers.

Remote workers in favour of a Right to Disconnect 66%
Remote workers who say they struggle to switch off from work 32%

Resources and guidance

Right to Disconnect

Prospect has launched a new guide looks at different approaches to the Right to Disconnect and how we can ensure unions are involved in safeguarding workers’ well-being and rights as new technology changes how we work.


Digital technology: guide for union reps

Prospect’s data and tech guide provides information, help and advice for union reps and volunteers to challenge, negotiate and bargain over digital technology and how our data is used by employers.


Data protection impact assessments

Our guide to DPIAs provides a worker perspective to help unions ensure that members are involved, consulted and part of any changes in how our data is used at work.

Putting workers at the heart of the future world of work Join Prospect now

News and analysis

finger pointing at laptop on abstract background
Blog
Andrew Pakes, Research Director · 20 January 2023
As remote working became common during the pandemic, there was an explosion of new digital…
Read more 
Blog
Andrew Pakes · 8 December 2021
Who has the biggest influence over your working life and future career? Your line manager?
Read more 
Blog
Andrew Pakes · 23 December 2020
As remote working has become more common, so has the technology that can monitor what…
Read more 

Employers’ collection and use of worker data

Our Feb 2020 survey showed that half of workers do not know what data employers are collecting about them.
Read more and download the report