White collar work is just meetings now

White-collar work has evolved into a landscape dominated by meetings, where communication has overshadowed creativity as the primary skill. The modern white-collar worker, despite spending more time alone due to remote work, is actually more connected than ever through constant meetings and collaborations. Data indicates a significant increase in time spent in meetings over the past few decades, with workers often finding themselves overwhelmed by communication demands. The shift to remote work during the pandemic further intensified this trend, leading to a "miniature workday" extending into late evenings. The meeting-industrial complex is driven by the need for increased communication in complex organizations and a cultural emphasis on inclusion. However, the proliferation of meetings is criticized for being inefficient, with many sessions deemed unnecessary and better suited for email communication. As technology advances, there is hope that artificial intelligence tools could streamline meetings and allow for more focus on productive work or leisure time. Despite this optimism, the prevalence of communication tools has made workplace interactions more pervasive and time-consuming, raising questions about the future balance between communication and creativity in white-collar work.