Weekends are time when things slow down a little. Your weekend shouldn’t be two more regular work days. That’s a sure road to burnout. Take time to refresh yourself. Take time for something different. Take time for some of that reading you can’t find time for during the week.

Here are choice articles on hot leadership topics culled from the business schools, the business press and major consulting firms. This week there are articles about

From Wharton: The Future of Jobs in the World of AI and Robotics

“Artificial intelligence and robotics are disrupting every aspect of work and redefining productivity. The old ways of not just working, but also assessing capabilities, hiring and compensation, are undergoing a massive change. In a conversation with Knowledge@Wharton, Srikanth Karra, chief human resource officer at Indian IT services firm Mphasis, discusses what this means for individuals, organizations and countries.”

From Craig Guillot: Manufacturers Firing Robots, Re-hiring Humans

“Paul Ryznar, President and CEO of OPS Solutions in Wixom, Mich., told Forbes.com that some manufacturers have lately been ditching their robots and in favor of putting more humans back on the factories floor. As digitization and consumers are demanding more choices and variation in products, there’s a growing need for more flexibility on the factory floor. Even highly automated systems need to be programmed and adjusted, and once manufacturers exceed a level of variation, robots’ unmatched ability to handle repetitive tasks becomes less of an asset.”

From Mark Miller: With aging populations, companies rethink opportunities for older workers

“One in 4 US workers will be 55 or older by 2024, according to the US Department of Labor. As people work beyond traditional retirement ages, companies are in the process of shifting the ways they treat, support, and think about older workers.”

From Peter Dockrill: This 4-Day Work Week Experiment Went So Well, The Company Is Keeping It

“A first-of-its-kind four-day work week experiment in New Zealand has come to an end after two months, but the trial went so well the company actually wants to make the changes permanent.”

Thanks to Adam Grant for pointing me to this article.

From Adi Gaskell: New Report Explores The Forces Affecting The Future Of Work

“The last few years have seen a wide range of reports from governments, think tanks, consultancies and academics exploring how the future of work might look. Many of these have revolved around the impact technology, and especially AI, might have on how (and indeed whether) we work. The latest effort, from Bain’s Macro Trends Group, takes a slightly broader view and examines not just the technological landscape but also demographic and economic forces.”

From Ravin Jesuthasan: Debunked: 5 myths about the future of work

“The new realities facing organizations as they strive to combine human talent and machines are revealed by the Willis Towers Watson 2017-18 Global Future of Work Survey. Its research debunks five myths about the future of work:”

Book Suggestions

Rise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat of a Jobless Future by Martin Ford

The 100-Year Life: Living and Working in an Age of Longevity by Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott

The Future of Work: Attract New Talent, Build Better Leaders, and Create a Competitive Organization by Jacob Morgan

Every week I share some recommendations of business books that I think are worth a look. Follow this link to the most recent list.

Every Monday, I do a blog post about business reading and business books. Follow this link to the most recent post where I list the best business strategy books for the 21st Century.