Exam 1 - Good Jobs, Bad Jobs, No Jobs

How do social scientists define job quality? What dimensions are used?

job quality is the extent to which job attributes promote worker well-being and job satisfaction

this encompasses earnings, working conditions, job design, social environment, if there are opportunities to advance/build skills, if they have a voice, and if the workload is sustainable

What is the “New Economy” characterized by polarization?

workers are working harder than ever and still not earning enough (Nickeled and Dimed)

increase number of “bad jobs” at the bottom

“good jobs” at the top, but with some caveats

unequal distribution of good jobs and bad jobs across race, gender, and class

economic and health inequality

What is quiet quitting?

quitting the idea of going above and beyond

quiet quitters make up ½ of the workforce, historic drop in productivity

people who experience high levels of burnout (women and people of color) can’t afford to quiet quit

What is financialization? What impact does this have on wage inequality and changes in job quality?

the process of financial markets, institutions, and transactions become increasingly important in a country’s economy

shift from traditional economic drivers like manufacturing or agricultures to a system that relies on financial activities

concentration of wealth and power in the elites resulting in a disproportionate share of global wealth

decline of long-term stable employment and a rise of unstable work, this negatively impacts low-skilled and low-wage workers

also causes a decline in wages and an increase in income inequality

What is shareholder value capitalism? What impact does this have on wage inequality and changes in job quality?

primary goal of company is to increase the wealth of its shareholders by paying dividends and/or causing the stock to increase

neglects the needs of the workers, results in a concentration of wealth

What is the rise of dominant buyers (e.g. Walmart, Target, Costco)? What impact does this have on wage inequality and changes in job quality?

small businesses sell to large corporations then the large corporations sell the products to us

essentially a monopoly

powerful buyers use their leverage to cut price from smaller buyers (comes out of workers’ wages)

workers earn lower wages

worse job quality with lower wages, fewer benefits, and worse working conditions

What is decline of unions? What impact does this have on wage inequality and changes in job quality?

union: bargaining agents for workers

less people are in the union

10% of workers in the US are covered by the union (90% in Sweeden)

decline of union explains the decline of wages (especially men’s wages)

rising income inequality by lowering middle-class income

increase in permanent and temporary layoffs

increase in unsafe working conditions, lack of job securing, lower wages, and less oversight on labor laws

What is minimum wage? What impact does this have on wage inequality and changes in job quality?

the lowest wage that an employer is legally required to pay an employee

minimum wage has been $7.25 since 2009

family of 3 relying on full-time minimum wage earnings fall well below the federal poverty threshold

impacts women’s wages more due to disparate impact

if minimum wage is increased then there may be layoffs

What is downsizing, layoffs? What impact does this have on wage inequality and changes in job quality?

downsizing: deliberate reduction of an organization’s workforce to lower operating costs and eliminate redundancies

layoffs: temporary or permanent termination of a worker’s employment for reasons unrelated to their performance

have a disparate impact on some groups and their wages

job insecurity

What is disparate Impact? Give a downsizing example.

seemingly gender neutral, but consequence effects certain groups more than others

downsizing example: laying off by seniority or job functions

women could be laid off due to time taken off for having children, caretaking, etc.

What are the cross-national differences in union rates and minimum wage levels?

What is an example of union and gender pay gap?

What is the overwork puzzle?

Why do more people feel overworked?

What is boundary spanning?

What are the drivers of increased hours? Economic explanation and cultural explanation.

What is the ideal worker norm?

What are coping strategies facing ideal worker norms? Explain accepting, “passing”, “revealing”

What are the consequences of overwork? Explain health and gender inequality

What is the conflict between the “ideal mother” and the “ideal worker” norms?

What are potential remedies for the overwork phenomena?

legal changes

organizational redesign

flexible work policies

cultural shifts

Why do Americans work so much?

What are demographic shifts in relation to the rise of “overworked families”?

What is the mismatch between workplace policies and workforce composition?

What is intensive parenting?

What is cognitive labor and gender inequality?

What has the health, gender, and class impact been on overworked families?

What are the parenting styles and social class according to Annette Lareau?

concerted cultivation (middle-class)

accomplishment of natural growth (working-class/poor)

US as a policy outlier

What are work-family policies?

these are national or organizational rules (like family leave or childcare subsidies) designed to help workers balance home and job responsibilities

The U.S. “DIY Society”

What is the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)?

What are the consequences of inadequate policy support?

“Women as America’s Safety Net”

The Happiness Gap

Maternal Guilt