Working Americans

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:

1.       http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2011/06/speedup-americans-working-harder-charts

2.       http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2011/06/speed-up-american-workers-long-hours

3.       http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/speedup