Deck 15: Economics and Politics

Question 1

Precarious Work: The Shifting Conditions of Work in Society
The American labor force has historically provided most people (though not all) with fairly steady work. Once in the labor market, a person could count on a relatively stable job over the course of a lifetime, often in the same company. Now that is more rare than common, resulting in a new phenomenon, labeled by sociologist Arne Kalleberg as "precarious work." Precarious work is defined as work that is uncertain, unpredictable, and risky from the point of view of a worker (Kalleberg 2009).
Research Question: What are the social conditions that have made work more precarious and made workers less secure in their employment?
Research Methods: Kalleberg has studied these questions using a macrolevel approach, drawing from secondary data sources, such as information from the U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Education, the General Social Survey, the Economic Policy Institute, and his own analyses of other published research studies.
Research Results: Kalleberg finds that the growth of precarious work produces increased stress for workers, thus also affecting families and personal relationships. He documents several reasons for this particular transformation in employment:
1. The expansion and institutionalization of nonstandard employment relations, such as temporary work and contract labor;
2. A general decline in job stability, meaning that people do not remain with the same employer over time;
3. An increasing tendency for employers to hire workers from outside of the work organization, rather than developing skills and talents from within;
4. Growth in involuntary job loss, especially among prime-age white men in white-collar occupations;
5. Growth in long-term unemployment;
6. A shift of risk from employers to employees, particularly in the decline of employee benefits;
7. Decline of unions and worker protections as employers have sought greater flexibility in management practices and the protection of profit margins.
Conclusions and Implications: Work is central to people's identity. As these various and multiple social, economic, and political forces have aligned, work has become more precarious and thus eroded people's sense of security. Kalleberg argues that new forms of work arrangements will be needed to ensure that employees, not just employers, have a commitment to the economy and society.
Questions to Consider
Is the work you plan to do precarious? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Sociologist Mr. K has done a research and found out that today employees do not have job stability and job security. Due to institutionalization and expansion, employers are looking for more contractual work or temporary employment form the employees and are avoiding giving them full time permanent jobs.
Precarious workers are those who fill permanent job needs but are denied permanent employee rights. Wages of precarious workers are much less than for permanent workers. Stable employment and good jobs are being eroded at a frightening rate
For example, content writer jobs are precarious because of its temporary nature and one cannot get assurance of job security from this job due to its unstable nature. When job is contractual and do not assure me stable earnings.
But, on a positive note, the experience one gains from a content writer job is immensely good however precarious the work nature is. However, one has to strive hard on skills and improvement on moving out from the zone of precarious workers.

Question 2

Precarious Work: The Shifting Conditions of Work in Society
The American labor force has historically provided most people (though not all) with fairly steady work. Once in the labor market, a person could count on a relatively stable job over the course of a lifetime, often in the same company. Now that is more rare than common, resulting in a new phenomenon, labeled by sociologist Arne Kalleberg as "precarious work." Precarious work is defined as work that is uncertain, unpredictable, and risky from the point of view of a worker (Kalleberg 2009).
Research Question: What are the social conditions that have made work more precarious and made workers less secure in their employment?
Research Methods: Kalleberg has studied these questions using a macrolevel approach, drawing from secondary data sources, such as information from the U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Education, the General Social Survey, the Economic Policy Institute, and his own analyses of other published research studies.
Research Results: Kalleberg finds that the growth of precarious work produces increased stress for workers, thus also affecting families and personal relationships. He documents several reasons for this particular transformation in employment:
1. The expansion and institutionalization of nonstandard employment relations, such as temporary work and contract labor;
2. A general decline in job stability, meaning that people do not remain with the same employer over time;
3. An increasing tendency for employers to hire workers from outside of the work organization, rather than developing skills and talents from within;
4. Growth in involuntary job loss, especially among prime-age white men in white-collar occupations;
5. Growth in long-term unemployment;
6. A shift of risk from employers to employees, particularly in the decline of employee benefits;
7. Decline of unions and worker protections as employers have sought greater flexibility in management practices and the protection of profit margins.
Conclusions and Implications: Work is central to people's identity. As these various and multiple social, economic, and political forces have aligned, work has become more precarious and thus eroded people's sense of security. Kalleberg argues that new forms of work arrangements will be needed to ensure that employees, not just employers, have a commitment to the economy and society.
Questions to Consider
How do you see the social factors that Kalleberg identifies as influencing the work of people in your social networks?

Answer 2

Sociologist Mr. K has done a research and found out that today employees do not have job stability and job security. Due to institutionalization and expansion, employers are looking for more contractual work or temporary employment form the employees and are avoiding giving them full time permanent jobs.
Social factors can have a huge impact on the occupation an individual chooses to attain. Personality, attitudes, and lifestyle all fall within the definition of social factors.
Also, factors mentioned By Mr. K like job hopping, loyalty issues towards the company, decline in job stability, employment of workers from outside instead of talent development of internal employees are some of the reasons found in people among one's social network.
The possible reason may be due to finding or being attracted to better opportunities of career growth or financial stability. Thus, there is a lack of job stability and loyalty among employees due to the availability of several other options.