Glossary

What is New Work?

The term New Work describes a new way of working in the global age of digital transformation. The concept was coined by the German-American social philosopher Frithjof Bergmann.

It is based on his idea of freedom and the conviction that traditional work systems no longer meet the requirements of the modern working world. Bergmann developed these ideas back in the 1970s while traveling in the former Eastern Bloc countries and critically examining capitalism and communism. In 1984, he founded the Center for New Work in Flint, Michigan, to put his concepts into practice.

Today, New Work includes approaches such as

  • flexible working hours,
  • location-independent working,
  • agile project methods,
  • flat hierarchies and
  • a stronger sense of purpose.

The aim is to give employees more self-determination, motivation and creative development while at the same time making companies more adaptable in a digitalized, globalized world. Alongside these opportunities, however, New Work also brings challenges, such as the risk of blurring the boundaries between work and private life or unclear role allocations in agile teams.