Some time ago Theocrat started a thread about lean production techniques and how they affected his life at work. I posted a follow-up on this in McTalbayne's hate my job thread, where I mentioned a study by two canadian social psychologists that concludes to stress, work overload, harassment and intimidation increasing the worker's productivity...
This adresses a number of issues, such as the prevailing role of productivity in capitalist societies, the reality of this so-called productivity (e.g. useless products/services, loads of money in marketing and advertising, uniformisation of products/services, social waste etc.), the role of social science in the instrumentalisation of the individual....what do I know...
The first point I'd like to adress is IMO the very core of the subject: Work as a structurating value. The idea that people should seek (and may find) the fulfilment of their potential as human beings in work.
There are historical precedents, but it's presently a fashionable debate in my country (France). Several books were edited of late which recommend not being too much involved in your work, cheating your boss and procrastinatig as a recipe for happiness.
The arguments are many, sociological, psychological and political.
To begin with, I'd like to submit this text for you to comment....Many probably know it already...but I'd like to have your reactions. The text is humorous but makes some interesting points IMO. Besides it's become somewhat symbolic...so here it goes:
http://www.diegluecklichenarbeitslos...te/english.htm
This adresses a number of issues, such as the prevailing role of productivity in capitalist societies, the reality of this so-called productivity (e.g. useless products/services, loads of money in marketing and advertising, uniformisation of products/services, social waste etc.), the role of social science in the instrumentalisation of the individual....what do I know...
The first point I'd like to adress is IMO the very core of the subject: Work as a structurating value. The idea that people should seek (and may find) the fulfilment of their potential as human beings in work.
There are historical precedents, but it's presently a fashionable debate in my country (France). Several books were edited of late which recommend not being too much involved in your work, cheating your boss and procrastinatig as a recipe for happiness.
The arguments are many, sociological, psychological and political.
To begin with, I'd like to submit this text for you to comment....Many probably know it already...but I'd like to have your reactions. The text is humorous but makes some interesting points IMO. Besides it's become somewhat symbolic...so here it goes:
http://www.diegluecklichenarbeitslos...te/english.htm
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