The job shortage in the U.S. over the past few decades has
had broader impacts on the economy and society than most Americans realize.
Although it is widely known among U.S. citizens that there has been a decrease
in jobs in the U.S. due to an increase in corporations sending jobs overseas;
few may know the full implications of this. For those who have jobs, there has
been an increasing expectation that employees work longer hours without any
benefit or compensation. In addition, as working hours and the number of women
in the work force have increased, so have the expectations and responsibilities
of household work. Both of these can be attributed to an increase in technology
with a decrease in company employment, as well as other societal factors.
While there has been a steady increase in U.S. productivity
over recent decades, working wages have remained linear with no parallel
increase to show for it. However, the top 1% has certainly seen the benefits of
this increased productivity. “If the median household income had kept pace with
the economy since 1970, it would now be nearly $92,000, not $50,000” (source
1.) This truly depicts the unfair wages of the working class in the U.S. This
can be described as a ‘speedup’ which is “an employer’s demand for accelerated
output without necessary increased pay” (source 3.) In addition, workers have
been increasingly putting in longer hours with an average of one in nine
employees working 50+ hours a week. Employees are also working longer hours
outside of one’s workplace. As technology has evolved, there has become an
expectation that one be available or connected to their work after hours in
ways such as e-mail or Skype. Although an employee may not physically be at
work, they often are mentally; at home, on weekends and even on vacation.
Employers often expect employees to be accessible and responsive during
these times which have also lead to work dramatically cutting into one’s
personal time. There should be a limit of this overworking that has
greatly blurred the lines between work and leisure. All of these factors have
led to sharp cuts into one’s leisure time; something Americans are already in
need of.
As work has continuously cut into Americans personal time,
so have the societal expectations that have raised household standards created
by developing technology. As technology has steadily improved the efficiency of
work - in and out of the workplace - it has also increased standards in those
areas. Although women have now steadily and heavily entered the work force,
there has been no decline in women’s housework (source 1.) For many Americans, this
expectation has come through technologies such as dish washers, stoves, laundry
machines, vacuums etc. that have made chores easier to do. Even though
technology has made cooking and cleaning easier to do in a more efficient and timelier
manner, it has also lead to a substantial increase in a women’s work around
one’s house.
Both job and household work exemplify the increased
overworking of Americans over the past few decades. Although one would expect
companies to hire more workers or have less work due to jobs being sent
overseas; it is quite the opposite. Americans are being overworked to a point
that significantly impedes one’s personal life and free time. Not only has this
increased workload taken over one’s workplace, but also one’s home and leisure
time.
Sources:
