work and leisure (jc2 gp lecture)-rev
TRANSCRIPT
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Work and Leisure
JC 2 General Paper Lecture
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Contents
Evolution of work and the work ethic
Classical views on work corresponding tosocietal changes
The when, where and how of work
Leisure and its impact on work
Case studies
Death by work: Case studies in Japan and China Live to work: Case studies in Singapore and
Sweden
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1. Evolution of workand the work ethic
Adapted from
Historical Context of the Work
Ethic
Roger B. Hill, 1996
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The key socio-economic periods
at a glance
Classical period
The Industrial Revolution
Medieval period
Industrial ManagementPeople Management and
the Age of Information
The rise of Capitalism
The Age of
Empowerment?
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Classical period
Plato and Aristotle
made it clear that the purpose for which the
majority of men worked was "in order that the
minority, the elite, might engage in pure exercisesof the mind--art, philosophy, and politics"
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Classical period
Is work the means to leisure?
Plato: work was meant to allow superior people
to enjoy the good life.
Aristotle: freedom from the necessity to labour for
a living
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Medieval period
Work
Still perceived as punishment
However, the positive connotation of earnings
prevented one from being reliant on the charity ofothers.
Wealth Recognized as an opportunity to assist those who
might be less fortunate
Work which produced wealth became acceptable.
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The rise of Capitalism
Centralization of government, the growth of trade, and theestablishment of economically powerful towns, during the 15th century,provided alternative choices for subsistence, and the feudal systemdied out.
This structure satisfied the economic interests of small-timebusinessmen and became institutionalized.
Hard work brought respect and contributed to social order and well-being of the community.
The dignity society attached to work brought respect for workers aswell, and contempt for those who were idle or lazy, compared to pastperiods.
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The rise of Capitalism
Rational theorists:
Work to earn a living;
subsistence
Karl Marx:
Work to establish meaning
in life
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The rise of Capitalism
What is the role of the division of labour?
Emile Durkheim:
Organic solidarity Organization of labour market: labour is optimally
distributed according to merit and expertise
Assumption made: the meritocratic function will ensure
a smooth-functioning society, since people are not
discriminated from work due to non-work related
reasons
Such workers are naturally happier in such a society.
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The rise of Capitalism
Is it ones duty to work?
Protestant Ethic: labour as religious duty
Leading a good life in life, and after life
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Industrial Revolution
Economists warned of the poverty and decay that would befall thecountry if people failed to work hard, and moralists stressed the socialduty of each person to be productive.
Manual labour was replaced by machines and intensive division of labor
came with the industrial age.
Individual control over the quantity and methods of personal productionbegan to be mechanized.
In the factories, skill and craftsmanship were replaced by discipline and
anonymity.
Tradecraft gradually disappeared as it was replaced by new inventionsand specialization of labour.
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Industrial Revolution
Henry Ford: work based on mass production
Manufacture of standardized products in huge
volumes using machinery and unskilled labour
Assembly line: routine, discipline and volume
Deskilling the worker
Scripted performances
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Industrial Management
Scientific managementwas conceived, predicated on specializationand division of jobs into simple tasks, often along a factorysconveyor belt.
Scientific management was claimed to increase worker production
and pay.
It was therefore presumed to be beneficial to workers, as well as thecompany, since monetary gain was viewed as the primarymotivating factor for both.
In actual practice, such a style was found to be demeaning tohuman nature and did not raise workers proficiencies, as they wereisolated from the entire production process.
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People Management and the Age of
Information
The Behaviorist school of thought provides alternative theories toguide the management of workers, where scientific managementfailed.
Contrary to the principles of scientific management, thebehaviorists argue that workers are not intrinsically lazy.
For them, if the environment fails to provide a challenge, workerswould became lazy, but if appropriate opportunities are provided,
workers would become creative and motivated.
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People Management and the Age of
Information
Industrial age jobs are seen as typically low-discretion, requirelittle decision-making, and analyzed and broken into simple taskswhich require very little thinking or judgment on the part ofworkers.
Information age jobs, in contrast, are high-discretion and requireconsiderable thinking and decision-making on the part ofworkers.
Jobs in the manufacturing industry also become more technical
and necessitate a higher level of thinking on the job, as machinesare interfaced with computers and control systems become morecomplex.
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People Management and the Age of
Information: really?
Frederick Taylor:
Work to maximize incomes
Ezra Vogel:
Work to perpetuate valued identities;
reproduction of social order
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People Management and the Age
of Information: really?
George Ritzer: work is Mcdonaldized
Efficient (best practices)
Calculable (quantity)
Predictable (standards)
Controllable (processes)
Irrationality of rationality Unreasonable system in which people cannot always
behave as human beings
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The Age of Empowerment?
Young people, in particular, enter the workforce withrelatively good qualifications, and expect opportunitiesfor advancement in their jobs.
They anticipate that talent and hard work would be the
basis for success rather than chance or luck.
In essence, information age workers expect applicationof a positive work ethic to result in rewards, includingthe ability to positively effect their jobs.
Think! Would you consider your future job or career
based on the level of satisfaction or the nature ofthe job?
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Is leisure the antithesis to work?
Leisure: the art of play as social lubricant Relaxation (from the daily stresses of life)
Catharsis (to expel anger in socially acceptable ways)
Compensation (to express oneself amidst thedehumanizing aspects of work)
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Take a break!
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The when of work
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The when of work
Permutations
Full time work
Part time work
Flexible work Leave arrangements (maternal, paternal, parental)
Time (e.g., concept of five-day work week)
Scope (division of labour)
Leisure Must time be allocated specifically for leisure, out of work?
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Where to work?
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Where to work?
Location-based
Off-location
Working from home
Small office, Home office (SOHO)
Working from elsewhere
Outsourcing and subcontracts
E.g. Client in Singapore, Product made in England,Call Center in India
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How to work?
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How to work?
Maximize potential at workplace
Contributing to organizations success
Propagating desirable values in society
Enjoying process of goal attainment
Establishing ownership of work
Aligning oneself to personal ideals and aspirations
Minimize potential at workplace
Quota restriction Good work, relatively good pay
No need to exceed productivity to maximize returns Goldbricking
Bad work, relatively bad pay
Minimal effort to attain time-out within undesirable work
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Leisure
Some def in i t ions
Freedom from occupation or
business
Activity that brings relaxation andpeace of mind
The time a person is not working
or doing other duties
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Types of leisure activities
All non-active actions
include sleep and rest
Times when personal services are
performed
washing, eating etc.
Relaxation in organised recreation
Sport, visiting the cinema etc. in
specific locations
Social activities Visiting friends, relatives etc. in non-
specific locations
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Main functions of leisureLeisure fulfils important roles in our individual and
interpersonal lives.
It provides entertainment and a relief from
boredom.
It is our natural desire for some time to play andfacilitates social interaction.
It is crucial for our mental and physical well-being
as it relieves work-related stress and pressure and
revitalises us. It is a status symbol as it fosters self-expression
through the kind of leisure activities we engage in.
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Main functions of leisure
It improves productivity because when workers arein a relaxed mode, they can work more efficiently.
It stimulates consumption in the economy as people
participate in leisure activities.
It enables one to maximise his potential at work or at
play and leads to his holistic development.
It enables one to broaden his outlook through
appreciation of the arts and keep abreast ofscientific and technological developments.
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What is constructive leisure?
Time is used for the benefit of ones emotional well-being.
Leisure can be a tool to fight stress and tension in modern
living and the choice of activity is up to the individual.
e.g. keeping pets provides emotional solace for some whilefor others, gardening or do-it-yourself activities provide
them with relaxation.
Time that is used to take stock of our lives can manifest
itself in many forms.
e.g. for those with creative talent, it can take the form of a
tangible piece of artwork while for others it is playing a
game or listening to music.
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The role of leisure in work
Spillover effect Work experiences spill over into leisure and affect non-work
attitudes
Compensation for work through leisure Work experiences are compensated by choice of leisure activities
Segmentation Choices of work and leisure are segmented and lived out
independently
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The treatment of leisure in society
Consumption of leisure
Adversarial: Does an increase in leisure
necessarily leads to a decrease in work?
Mutually beneficial: Can work and leisure be
complementary?
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Factors which affect leisure
interests
Changing trends
Improvements in facilities
Economic affluence Higher educational attainment
Changes in technology
External/foreign influences Presence of a youthful population
Stress on medical and health benefits
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Work and leisure
The nature of ones occupation does have a bearingon the use of ones leisure hours. If the working hours are long and the work is physically an
mentally onerous, there is little time for leisure. If the hours
of work are moderate, there might be more opportunitiesfor leisure.
Weary urban workers may find solace and mentalrelaxation in parks or nature reserves while
sedentary workers may fulfil their need for physicalexercises through organised games such as soccer,or through unorganised games like swimming orjogging.
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Take a break!
http://www.visionunlimited.co.uk/InspireHumo
ur/ENTRIES/048.HTM (Scott Adams, creator
of Dilbert)
http://www.visionunlimited.co.uk/InspireHumour/ENTRIES/048.HTMhttp://www.visionunlimited.co.uk/InspireHumour/ENTRIES/048.HTMhttp://www.visionunlimited.co.uk/InspireHumour/ENTRIES/048.HTMhttp://www.visionunlimited.co.uk/InspireHumour/ENTRIES/048.HTM -
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Death by work
Case Studies in Japan and China
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Case study : Karosh iin Japan
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Case study : Karosh i
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Foxconn suicides in China
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Swearing by work
Case studies in Singapore andSweden
T k 1 F i k
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Task 1: Framing an argument on work
and leisure: Are people in todays
society enjoying work-life balance? Whats old - Number of hours?
Conditions at the workplace?
Societal expectations?
Generational divide?
Whats (relatively) new -
Renegotiating the model of
work
Rejecting regimentedhardships
Take up one issue on the
left-hand column and
construct a topic sentence
with regard to the above
question.
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Work-Life Balance
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Work-Life Balance
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Tripartism- a viable model for
work-life balance?
Click these links and take note of
some initiatives that address work-life balance
http://www.mom.gov.sg/Documents/employment-practices/Guidelines/2672_GuidelinesonBestWLPractices.pdf
http://www.mom.gov.sg/Documents/employment-practices/Guidelines/3079_20040823_NTAP_Guidelines_Final.pdf
http://www.mom.gov.sg/Documents/employment-practices/Guidelines/2672_GuidelinesonBestWLPractices.pdfhttp://www.mom.gov.sg/Documents/employment-practices/Guidelines/2672_GuidelinesonBestWLPractices.pdfhttp://www.mom.gov.sg/Documents/employment-practices/Guidelines/3079_20040823_NTAP_Guidelines_Final.pdfhttp://www.mom.gov.sg/Documents/employment-practices/Guidelines/3079_20040823_NTAP_Guidelines_Final.pdfhttp://www.mom.gov.sg/Documents/employment-practices/Guidelines/3079_20040823_NTAP_Guidelines_Final.pdfhttp://www.mom.gov.sg/Documents/employment-practices/Guidelines/3079_20040823_NTAP_Guidelines_Final.pdfhttp://www.mom.gov.sg/Documents/employment-practices/Guidelines/3079_20040823_NTAP_Guidelines_Final.pdfhttp://www.mom.gov.sg/Documents/employment-practices/Guidelines/2672_GuidelinesonBestWLPractices.pdfhttp://www.mom.gov.sg/Documents/employment-practices/Guidelines/2672_GuidelinesonBestWLPractices.pdfhttp://www.mom.gov.sg/Documents/employment-practices/Guidelines/2672_GuidelinesonBestWLPractices.pdf -
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Work-Life BalanceImplement ing w ork- l i fe balance
Involv ing midd le managers in the process is the key to su ccess, says Hawazi Daipi
By Cassandra Chew
Middle managers are key to the success of work-life balance strategies in theworkplace but are often left out of the process when it comes to implementingsuch measures.
The involvement of line-managers and supervisors, in addition to that of bosses,makes a critical difference to the effectiveness of work-life strategies, SeniorParliamentary Secretary (Health and Manpower) Hawazi Daipi said on
Thursday.'An effectively implemented work-life strategy helps employees better meet theirwork demands and personal needs, which will, in turn, benefit the employer,' headded.
'From the employee's perspective, better work-life harmony means less tensionbetween work and personal lives, and a better quality of life overall, resulting inimproved ability to perform at their best at work.'
Credit Suisse buys into this philosophy. Recognising that not all middlemanagers were comfortable facilitating such changes at work, it helps themease into the role in ways such as mentoring, and interaction with workers atnetworking events.
'Baby boomers may not necessarily know how to manage younger workers oftoday. But if we expose them to different ways of leadership, they will be muchmore open,' said Ms Niki Kesoglou, a regional director at the international bank.
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Task 2: Gathering information to substantiate your
argument: Are people in todays society enjoying
work-life balance?
From your research and Hawazis comments, what are someinitiatives that address or improve work-life balance inSingapore?
What is your view on these initiatives? Do they genuinely improve work-life balance in your society?
(slides 44-47 and your contextual knowledge)
OR
Are these initiatives mere lip service? (slides 39-41 and yourcontextual knowledge)
Such case studies (and subsequent evaluation) will be useful toexemplify your assertions.
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Lagom!
English equivalent: just right
Should work be tied to maximum output,
maximum happiness orLagom?
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A review of Swedens policies on
work-life balance
Review this document
at
http://agingandwork.b
c.edu/documents/GPB10_Sweden.pdf
Comparing Singapore
and Sweden
1. Similarities?2. Differences?
Task 3: Assessing perspectives in
http://agingandwork.bc.edu/documents/GPB10_Sweden.pdfhttp://agingandwork.bc.edu/documents/GPB10_Sweden.pdfhttp://agingandwork.bc.edu/documents/GPB10_Sweden.pdfhttp://agingandwork.bc.edu/documents/GPB10_Sweden.pdfhttp://agingandwork.bc.edu/documents/GPB10_Sweden.pdfhttp://agingandwork.bc.edu/documents/GPB10_Sweden.pdf -
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Task 3: Assessing perspectives in
argumentation: Are people in todays
society enjoying work-life balance?
Assess the topic sentence you have crafted andelaboration done in task 1 (slide 43) and task 2 (slide48) respectively.
It is important to note that examples by themselves do not makeyour argument compelling, but your assessment of theseexamples does.
One way to inject personal voice in your argumentation is
through perspective-taking and assessment.
Now, having assessed both Singapores and Swedens cases,what is your analysis?
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Task 3: Using examples intelligently:
techniques to present your personal voice
after evidencingCorroborationDo both case studies corroborate your argumentation?
Use the second example to reinforce the first example, to supportyour argumentation in todays society.
ComparisonDoes one case study appear to be more compelling than the other? Argue which one is more valid, and explain why that particularcase is more representative in todays society.
Disproving
Are both case studies flawed? (e.g. ideal in theory, flawed in practice) Argue why evidence presented in one and/or both case studiesis/are flawed, and propose counter-evidence to support yourargumentation, with regard to todays society.
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Task 4: The finished product
Put together tasks 1, 2 and 3!
You should have a complete essay paragraph on: A topic sentence and some elaboration of the issue you
have chosen with regard to work-life balance
An example of an initiative from MOM, which attempts toaddress work-life balance
An evaluation of an initiative based on the Swedish casestudy, for which you would have a) Corroborated, 2)Compared or 3) Disproved with counter-evidence
to demonstrate your personal voice
This is one way you may make use of examples toinject your personal voice within your essay.
Task 5: Past year questions for your consideration and
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practice
1. Discuss the view that children always suffer when both parentswork. (Nov 1998)
2. A life of total luxury - dream or nightmare? (Nov 2000)
3. I am a millionaire. That is my religion. To what extent has thepursuit of wealth become the modern goal? (Nov 2000)
4. The most worthwhile jobs are those with the least financial gains.Do you agree? (Nov 2001)
5. The family has suffered at the expense of career in Singaporeansociety. Is this a fair comment? (Nov 2003)
6. Instead of speeding up the pace of life, we should be slowing itdown. What do you think? (Nov 2005)
7. Mass production inevitably means a loss of craftsmanship andquality. Is this true in your society? (Nov 2007)
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Acknowledgements
R. Hill (1996). Historical Context of the Work Ethic.
Anthony Giddens (1993). Sociology. Pp 490-523.
M. Haralambos. Sociology: Themes and Perspectives. Pp 228-277.
Worlds executive Digest (1983). The Changing Concepts of Work and Leisure. Pp 6-23.
Cultural, Social and Leisure Activities in Singapore. Census monograph no.3 (1990).
100 Essays from TIME. Pp 384-400.
The Straits Times. Retrieved from
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_571388.html.
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_571388.htmlhttp://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_571388.html