Tony Horowitz: “Mr Edens Profits Tony Horowitz: “Mr Edens Profits from Watching … Every Move”from Watching … Every Move”

Edens runs a factory style company that Edens runs a factory style company that does “lockbox processing”, i.e. processing does “lockbox processing”, i.e. processing paperwork.paperwork.

Company is set up quite differently from Company is set up quite differently from what most would expect from a white-collar what most would expect from a white-collar environment.environment.

No coffee, food, or religious ornaments on No coffee, food, or religious ornaments on desks.desks.

Horowitz (cont. 1)Horowitz (cont. 1)

Quota’s:Quota’s:– 3 envelopes per minute3 envelopes per minute– 8500 keystrokes per minute8500 keystrokes per minute

Talking is forbidden.Talking is forbidden. Windows covered.Windows covered. Cameras are everywhere.Cameras are everywhere. Employees start at minimum wage, average Employees start at minimum wage, average

is slightly more.is slightly more.

Horowitz (cont. 2)Horowitz (cont. 2)

Is this a white-collar or blue collar job? What Is this a white-collar or blue collar job? What makes something white-collar?makes something white-collar?

Does the monitoring have to be so Does the monitoring have to be so aggressive? (keep in mind that thousands of aggressive? (keep in mind that thousands of dollars are handled in cash and checks)dollars are handled in cash and checks)

Is it about productivity or theft?Is it about productivity or theft? Is the analogy of the classroom a good one?Is the analogy of the classroom a good one?

Horowitz (cont. 3)Horowitz (cont. 3)

What of the “pedestal” or “birdhouse”? What What of the “pedestal” or “birdhouse”? What of the black globe?of the black globe?

Experts say that monitoring results in a Experts say that monitoring results in a hostile work environment, pressure, and hostile work environment, pressure, and stress related illness.stress related illness.

National Labor Relations Board filed many National Labor Relations Board filed many complaints against Edens company. complaints against Edens company. Complaints included threats, spying, and Complaints included threats, spying, and interrogation. interrogation.

Horiwitz (cont. 4)Horiwitz (cont. 4)

Settled out of court and reinstated a fired Settled out of court and reinstated a fired employee. Also posted notice saying it employee. Also posted notice saying it would refrain from illegal activities during 2would refrain from illegal activities during 2ndnd union vote, which failed.union vote, which failed.

Look at Edens’ language:Look at Edens’ language:– ““This is a controlled environment”This is a controlled environment”– ““control cards”control cards”– ““the cage”the cage”

Horowitz (cont. 5)Horowitz (cont. 5)

– ““If you want to watch someone, it’s easier from If you want to watch someone, it’s easier from behind because they don’t know you’re behind because they don’t know you’re watching them”watching them”

– ““It’s not a Big Brother attitude. It’s more of a It’s not a Big Brother attitude. It’s more of a calming attitude”calming attitude”

– Regarding the complaints: “It’s all noise”Regarding the complaints: “It’s all noise”– ““It’s got to add stress when everyone knows It’s got to add stress when everyone knows

their production is being monitored. I don’t their production is being monitored. I don’t apologize for that.”apologize for that.”

Horowitz (cont. 6)Horowitz (cont. 6)

– ““I’m not paying people to chat. I’m paying them to open I’m not paying people to chat. I’m paying them to open envelopes. I don’t want them looking out – it’s envelopes. I don’t want them looking out – it’s distracting. They’ll make mistakes.”distracting. They’ll make mistakes.”

– ““We don’t ask these people to think – the machines We don’t ask these people to think – the machines think for them. They don’t have to make decisions.”think for them. They don’t have to make decisions.”

Workers of the office/factory felt lonely, trapped, Workers of the office/factory felt lonely, trapped, and isolated. and isolated.

No variety in the job.No variety in the job. Is this really Draconian?Is this really Draconian?