ESB Economic Forum: New Work – (not) just a trend: What price will we pay for this new freedom?

Flexibility, autonomy and a good work-life balance have long been more than just buzzwords – they are fundamentally reshaping the modern working world. Hybrid models, working from home and the desire for purpose are considered the big promises of the modern working world. But at the same time, a counter-trend is already emerging: while some companies see these developments as the future of work, others are calling for a return to the office and tried-and-tested structures – they warn about a loss of team spirit, efficiency and corporate culture. 

So, the key question is: How much New Work can the world of work take? Is it a forward-looking concept that will advance companies and society – or merely a trend that is associated with high social, cultural and economic costs? Who will benefit from this development, who will pay the price in the end? And above all, how is the style of management changing in a world of work which is characterised by flexibility, autonomy and hybrid models? 

Under the motto ‘New Work – (not) just a trend: What price will we pay for this new freedom?’,the 29thEconomic Forum (Wifo) at ESB Business School invites you to join an exciting and controversial debate on 29th April 2025. High-profile speakers from politics, business and science will discuss the future of the world of work, highlight opportunities and risks and ask: Will New Work really bring about the change we need? 

Further information about the venue will follow shortly. 

The Economic Forum (Wifo)at ESB Business School:

The Economic Forum at ESB Business School is a public panel discussion on current topics from business, politics and society. It was founded by students in autumn 1996 and is organised every year by a team of students. This year, the ESB Economic Forum is being organised by Vanessa dos Santos Keller, Jan Sallwey and Max Hufschmidt (acquisition), Marit Lemke, Laura Mattern and Ludwig Knab (marketing) as well as Isabella Brosel-Carlson and Hanyi Shen (logistics).