Coming soon!

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If you want pre-order a copy of WORK, RECONSTRUCTED please send an e-mail to secretariat@freetradeeuropa.eu The book costs EUR 20/SEK 250/GBP 20/USD 20.

You can pay by the following means:

Bank transfer - SE6250000000052731052627

Bank Giro  - 609-0336 

SWISH - 0046 708 935 037

This book was born from countless conversations with freelancers, entrepreneurs, platforms, trade union representatives, academics, decision-makers and opinion-formers over the years about the ever-evolving entity that is work, and how individuals make money from their skills and passions.

Before The New Gig podcast, my research on the future of work, and the events I organised across Europe, I viewed work through a personal lens. How could I have more freedom and flexibility while earning a living from my expertise, knowledge and skills? I wanted to explore the possibilities outside of the standard 9 to 5 while creating an engaging, rich and purposeful present and future for myself. With increasingly powerful technology and people’s changing expectations, what was once a niche movement has gone mainstream - and is poised for exponential growth. I find myself today as one of the many, rather than one of the few.

For the majority, work should no longer be something that is dour, repetitive and physically draining. More than ever, minds have been opened to the possibility of earning money from individual abilities, knowledge and passions, rather than purely seeing a job as something to be suffered: a necessity to be endured in order to pay the bills.

Given the developments associated with the future of work - and how these are facilitating the symbiosis of technology and human talent - this book aims to explain current trends. It also sets out to provide individuals and organisations with information, ideas and advice on how to navigate the now and the future of work. Additionally, this book highlights how regulators and decision-makers should put in place guardrails but also allow the future of work to flourish.

This book is structured into four connected parts: 1) Work in Context; 2) Freelancing for Freelancers; 3) Freelancing for Business and 4) Freelancing for Decision-makers.

The first section analyses the world of work in context by studying its evolution, and the rise of freelancing as an option for an increasing number of individuals. It also looks at the role of technology in this transformation as well as other drivers for change. 

The second section looks at freelancing today: how to get started and what to think about from a practical perspective, as well as the requirements to succeed with this workstyle.

The third part of this book treats why businesses need to embrace open talent, their main considerations to profit from this sea change, how AI has transformed leadership and the rise of HR outsourcing.

The final section analyses the requirements of politicians and policy-makers vis-à-vis the world of work, as well as the new government policies and services that are needed for it to thrive.

The publication of the book is not an end goal in itself, but rather part of an ongoing campaign to educate about the realities of the world of work and prepare individuals, organisations and governments for a future which is already here.

The contents of the book will be the focus of a number of events and activities taking place across Europe this spring and summer. Roadshow locations are:

• Vilnius, Lithuania
• Berlin, Germany
• Riga, Latvia
• Helsinki, Finland
• Brussels, Belgium
• Warsaw, Poland
• Stockholm, Sweden
• London, UK

Related photographs will appear in the gallery below.

This cover aims to show the diversity that exists within society today. This is not just limited to skin, hair or eye colour but also the where, when and how of work, and the way in which people want to monetise their skills and passions in different ways. There is no one-size-fits-all in today's world of work. Similarly, there is more choice then ever before, but with this comes the need to find a path through the maze of opportunities and dead ends.

It has been noted that the cover also evokes the classic physical skill game "Twister". Parallels can indeed be drawn on a deeper level since individuals and companies need to prioritise flexibility, speed and trying new things in the labour market of today.