HSP 3M - Unit 3

Social Institutions

Ms. PannellBain, C.M., & Colyer, J.S. (2001). The Human way. Toronto: Oxford University Press

PART 2

The Nature of Work

Questions: The Nature of Work Why do some love their jobs, while others

hate them?

Why do some people choose to be self-employed?

Why do some people accept work at dead-end jobs, while others ambitiously pursue top positions?

The Nature of Work

Personal fulfillment is the top priority for workers in Canada

Only 1 in 4 workers work just to make money

With industrialization, workers experience alienation (Karl Marx) Workers feel disconnected from their labour (Cannot be

creative or take pride in the finished product) Employers not responsible for worker’s job satisfaction

The Language of Work - Values Many cultures have no word for “work” (Kimbrell, 1999, 2)

It is so integrated into family and community life that it does not need a word of its own

Pre-industrial economies

Job is a piece of work done for hire or profit (dictionary defin) Good job: well-paying, secure, skilled Original meaning (definition): to describe a criminal or demeaning action –

“bank job”

When the Industrial Revolution began, the concept of working for wages was both new and contemptible. Many resented being forced from traditional farming or cottage industries into factories. This was demeaning

Factory workers were the first to use the term ‘job’ to describe factory wage labour

Language of work continued

JOB

Cottage industry - CRAFT

No creativity, never see a product through from beginning to end

Get to exercise creativity, developyour skill, take pride in your work and product and see a product from beginning to end

demeaning Satisfying

Language of Work continued

How can we proclaim through our vocabulary the sense of dignity and fulfillment that we hope to find in work?

Career? “rapid and unrestrained

activity”

Language of Work continued

Kimbrell in an Utne Reader article (1999) suggest a revival of the term

vocation

Extend these terms and their meaning to “Job”

Job “profession of deeply felt values”

Vocation: from the Latin vocatio, meaning “calling”. Today remains mostly limited to the pursuit of religious lifeThose who answer a religious calling make a profession

Our work / job should be a profession of deeply held values…. If this were to happen, a number of changes would occur in the

workplace:

Physical and mental needs of workers would become more important than efficiency

Labour unions focus more on quality of life in the workplace than wage increases

More people would opt for self-employment

Companies would transfer and relocate people less

Better legislation around health care, vacations, minimum wage, part-time working, paid leave for family reasons

Mentoring programs to help young people select professions

How far is Canada’s current employment scene from this ideal?

How far is Canada’s current employment scene from this ideal?

PART 3

Post Industrial Employment Patterns

Canada’s Economic Sectors

Primary Sector(extract resources)

Secondary Sector

Manufacturing (Turning raw

materialsInto goods)

Tertiary Sector(provide services)

As nations Industrialize theImportance of thePrimary sector declines

Growth of the tertiarysector coincides with an information revolution to create a post-industrial global economy

The New Economy2 conflicting viewpoints predicted The Optimist! The Doubtful theorist!

In a “Wired”, borderless, global economy

Productivity and employmentLevels will be HIGH

Prices and unemploymentwill be LOW

Emergence of a cut-throatcompetitive global

economy controlled by a Few large, profit driven

Multinational corporations

Accountable to only theirshareholders

Contribute to widening theGap between the ‘have’ and

‘have-not’

Keep these views in mind while analyzing how the ‘new economy’ affects Canadian workers

The New Economy – Technology Trends

Automation of factories (computers / robotics) in the 1980s caused huge layoffs of minimally skilled clerical and assembly line workers

Outcome: 2-fold1. Productivity has increased while costs have decreased (a possible good

thing!)

2. Unemployment has increased (a not-so-good thing!)

It is doubtful that technology will ever create as much employment as it takes away

New trend – telecommuting - New work options (at home using the web)

The New Economy – Economic Trends Increased international trade and competition

Unrestricted movement of capital, management and labour – controlled by international trade organization and agreements (WTO) (NAFTA) Loosed trade barriers between nations, loosened ties between

employers and employees

Resulted in:1. Downsizing – laying off of workers permanently (in order to

become more competitive)

2. Relocating to countries where labour is cheaper

New Economy – Employment Trends Most job creation since the 1980s has been

in service sector

Part-time, temporary, short term contract and lower pay, little to no union representation

Self-employment has grown In 1997, 2.5 million Canadians or 16% of labour force

Resulted in a shift in traditional ‘career paths’

Career PathsFoot and Stoffman (1998)

1. Linear1. Get an as much

education as possible,

2. Find an entry level job

3. Work your way up the ‘ladder’ to senior management

4. Stay with the same company whole working life

Get an education

Find an entry level job

Work your Way up the ladder

Stay with the companyYour whole career

Career PathsFoot and Stoffman (1998)

2. Steady-state

One occupation for life Doctors, professor, clergy, teacher More of a “calling” Goals may include autonomy, fringe benefits, social status

and tenure

Career PathsFoot and Stoffman (1998)

3. Spiral Employee might

move up in a corporate structure through a combination of lateral moves (changes in job description) and linear promotions

May be within the same organization or not

Jr. Policy AdvisorEnviron. Can

Jr. Policy AdvisorHealth Can.

Sen. PolicyAdvisor N.R.Can.

Sen. PolicyTreasury Board

ManagerHeritage Canada

DirectorEnviro. Can

Director GeneralEnviro. Can

AssistantDeputy MinisterEnviro. Can

Career PathsFoot and Stoffman (1998)

4. Transitory

Traditionally have pursued whatever occupation is necessary to get a job

Can be highly skilled specialists (programmers) or unskilled service providers (bike couriers)

Work on short-term contracts for many organizations

May be part of a pool of experts called on when needed

Spiral and Transitory are the 2 fastest growing career paths

Future Trends

Many career changes

Expected to upgrade skills regularly

Service sector boom Health care as baby boomers age Education as workers continuously upgrade skills

Flexible working conditions Telecommuting, flexible hours Slower more gradual retirement