Myths at Work

by Harriet Bradley; Mark Erickson; Carol Stephenson; Steve Williams (Portsmouth University)

• ISBN13: 9780745622705
• ISBN10: 0745622704
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-01-01
• Publisher: Polity

Summary

During the last two decades there have been profound changes in the organization of work. Myths atWork explores these changes, critically examining and challenging some of the central frameworks that have been used to explain them.Global economic restructuring has brought about changes in the jobs we do, our labour market opportunities, and the shape of our individual career paths. These changes have been explained through a number of potent 'myths' (in the sense of widely-held bodies of ideas) including globalization, post-fordist production methods, and a new consumer-based form of capitalism. The authors examine these myths, explain how they have come about, and question their accuracy. While doing so they provide a more accurate picture of employment and the modern workplace. They also look at the 'myths' of the feminisation of the labour force, the skills revolution, lean production, non-standard employment, the death of class, the end of trade unionism, and the 'economic worker'.The result is an illuminating and accessible teaching and research text that will appeal to students and academics in the sociology of work, organizational behaviour, business studies, and related areas.

Author Biography

Department of Sociology, University of Bristol; Department of Cultural Studies and Sociology, University of Birmingham; School of International Studies, Sunderland University; School of Education, Portsmouth University, respectively

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	vi
List of Abbreviations	viii
Introduction: Myths at Work	1	(11)
The Myth of Globalization	12	(19)
The Myth of Lean Production	31	(20)
The Myths of Non-Standard Employment	51	(20)
The Myth of the Female Takeover	71	(21)
The Myth of Technology and Science as the Solution to Workplace Problems	92	(19)
The Myth of the Skills Revolution	111	(19)
The Myth of the Death of Class	130	(19)
The Myth of the End of Trade Unionism	149	(20)
The Myth of the `Economic Worker'	169	(18)
Conclusion: Beyond the Myths?	187	(12)
Notes	199	(9)
Bibliography	208	(21)
Index	229