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If companies realize that some 50% of the work can be done on tablets (all the email/meeting stuff) the working environment will change. This is how it might become (disclaimer: forecasts for the futures are unreliable).
You don't get your cubicle, you get some smaller shared space where you can sit with your tablet, talk with your coworkers, move around and make instant meetings. Nobody owns a specific chair or couch. You'll get some docking stations to do the heavy work with mouse and keyboard. You boss will still be there to watch you and make sure you don't slack off and yes, bosses up in the hierarchy still have their own office with their own desk and chair.
The company will be happy because they need less space, you bring in your hardware (you pay for it, they don't), the working environment looks more cool and it's easier to hire younger people. The trend will start with smaller companies and move to the bigger ones.
Is that going to happen and be more productive than a standard workplace? I don't know but in some cases making it easier for people to meet and share thoughts improves productivity. In other cases people want to sit alone without nobody to disturb them. An environment that offers both opportunities should be the best one.

No. There are plenty of things we can do to stop it:

* Minimum wage

Minimum wages reduces demand for employees. I know when minimum wages go up small business owners may either have to fire employees or go out of business, both of which reduces demand for employees are therefore lowers wages.

Progressive income taxes

Why should I work my ass off to make more money, and increase demand for employees, if I have to pay more taxes on what I make? That's robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Taxing capital gains as income

If worked right I support this, if not I don't. The devil is in the details. Otherwise I do not support income taxes. What I, and you, work to earn should not be taxed.

Strong unions for collective bargaining

Strong collective bargaining yes, strong unions though is a big no no. If I do not want to be a member of a union or have union dues taken from my paycheck I should not have to live with either one yet still have my job. In other words no closed shops, which some unions push for. Twenty two states have right to work laws, which I support, that are supposed to prevent this.

Laws against unlawful termination

What? Laws make things unlawful, if there are no laws it not illegal.

Tariffs against nations with poor labor laws

Thus reducing demand for employees, see above. Without government interference markets will improve employee pay and labor conditions. Look at China and India for examples. Because of relatively free trade, though there still is government interference, throughout the 1990s and early 2000s to the recession both nations saw booming middle and upper classes rise up. Real wages in both nations increased. They both went from relative backwater economies to being major economic powerhouses. In competition with each other they now offer other nations assistance.

Now I'm not saying there should be no laws or regulations, the less there is the better, but the ones there are need to be smarter and if necessary reformed or eliminated.

These things worked here for 50 years, and they still work in Western Europe. What the hell is wrong with you when you argue against policies that benefit your own economic and social interests?

Oh but do they? If I go to France and want to start my own business employing people can I do so easily? I don't think so. A few years ago there were riots by the youth when government proposed making it easier for employers to fire employees. I know I would not want to hire someone if I can't fire them because they cost me more than they make for me. It's in my own, and society's, interests to be able to easily fire a bad employee as well as get rid of them when they aren't needed.

And starting my own business is something I want to do. My sister already did, with friends of hers she started an accounting firm which now employees others.

Falcon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_manslaughter

http://www.hse.gov.uk/corpmanslaughter/faqs.htm

http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/2008/03/15/41798/corporate-manslaughter-legal-q.html
i am pretty sure this law was brought in due to a few things where the coprorate body was deemed to be liable for deaths caused but there seemed to be inadequate laws to punish the heads of the coprorate bodies

it's not just businesses but also the national health bodies here in the UK and also local/regional councils too.

from what i gather the charges being brought are rare and even rarer is a successful charge.

When asked about the design, Mr. Gillette confirmed that seven blades would be used.

"This is geared to the most exxtremely large headed men. Women will desire it for their legs as well, because of the increase in area coverage. But the pricing is set to both appeal to, and confirm the financial status of, men who professionaly play sports, star in major motion pictures, or are major stockholders in multinational corporations.

"Oh, and don't worry about the 6000 layoffs. Those people were unnecesary. I, on the other hand, will pocket $1 billion, which I need badly in order to maintain my way of life. Some managers will receive hundreds of thousands of dollars, and top managers will receive several million. Those managers will be the primary market for the new Mach 7 razor, because if they don't buy it they will be laid off next. I will also buy the new razor, because of the exxtreme largesse of my own personal bean.

"Other men may find the razor too large. They could slip up and shave off their nose, or lips, or something.

http://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2005/01/31/ 27721/Gillette+executives+expect+takeover+windfall .htm

Big bust in Israel for this sort of stuff
http://www.personneltoday.com/Articles/2005/06/07/ 30214/Spies+like+us.htm

You can get sacked for saying that!

Or has Google gotten a lot of bad press lately....
It's even more interesting considering this was recently started...

--tinfoil hat size: 7 3/8

"Won't it be wonderful when Labor adopts the EU constutition without a vote by the people. I know you are all excited over than and can hardly wait.
I know you are all looking forward to getting the the Euro as a currency as well."

It's not so important to those of use working in IT, but our failure to join the Euro is hurting a lot of people who work in or are connected to the manufacturing sector (see here).

People bash the EU all the time, but it does us a lot of good - we weren't even guaranteed certain human rights until Europe introduced the European Convention on Human Rights:

"This is a separate, but just as influential element of European Law. For example, The Human Rights Act 1998 became law in the UK in October 2000 and guarantees some rights that people in the UK did not have previously, including certain rights to privacy."