Information technology is changing the workplace. Forecasts range from wondrous visions of future capabilities to dark scenarios of employment loss and dehumanization. Some predict revolutionary impacts, while others conclude that the way we do business will change only gradually if much at all. The less positive visions of the future workplace are reviewed here, in the context of the ways in which changes in the academic workplace mirror those of business, with a 5- to 10-year lag. It is felt that institutional research offices could suffer, based on recent works on the negative aspects of office automation. The following topics are discussed in particular: (1) downsizing; (2) use of part-time and "gold collar" workers--both part-time low-skill workers and experts who work as independent contractors; (3) redistribution of jobs; (4) reduced quality of work life; (5) increased monitoring of employee effort; (6) health-related problems and stress; and (7) the future institutional research office. Contains 17 references. (Author/KM)