Problems With Industrial Era View of Labor

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Metadata of Note

Type: 🍃Leaf Source: Payoff by Dan Ariely & my Thoughts Tags: #job #work #History #Balance Date: April 8th, 2022

Dan Ariely explains in his book the problems with the persistence of the industrial era view of labor that is largely accepted as truth. Industrial-era view: The notion that people work for a wage, that there is no more meaning beyond getting compensated fairly that motivates people to work. This view springs from [[Adam Smith]]'s #1776 magnum opus "The Wealth of Nations" where he mentions that efficiency can be increased for a process when it's broken down into components and people are assigned one part of the big task and asked to specialize. Such as what happens in a factory. However, by doing so, workers become a cog in a wheel without seeing the bigger picture of how their work fits into it. Work was assumed to be unpleasant, but there is incredible importance placed on the reward that it seems worth it in the end. Also, importance was placed on buying "stuff": On individuals wanting stuff, companies hence making stuff, and laborers working hard to buy the stuff. In the modern world, this happens in the form of small cubicles. Esp., small cubicles that have only enough space to keep work stuff and places that discourage employees from decorating the cubicle.

A great anti-example of this is the company [[Zappos]] that encourages every employee to be "weird" and decorate their office space.

[[Dan Ariely]] says,

"You might think that only little kids are motivated by this environment. But the truth is we never really grow up. A creative space, coupled with a kind word, genuine appreciation, the feeling of progress and achievement -- the forces that motivate us are the same throughout our lives."