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Labor: Difference between revisions
→Harder sells
(Created page with "==Quality== A large percent of jobs suck{{x|job satisfaction is low for the majority of people; exact statistics will be added here soon}}. Workers are treated badly; workplace designs are often unergonomic, unhealthy and unpleasant. Usually there are simple fixes that bosses either haven't considered, or don't care about because they don't improve profits. {{x|As a society, we should care about making jobs more enjoyable - even if it sacrifices a bit of productivity....") |
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A large percent of jobs suck{{x|job satisfaction is low for the majority of people; exact statistics will be added here soon}}. Workers are treated badly; workplace designs are often unergonomic, unhealthy and unpleasant. | A large percent of jobs suck{{x|job satisfaction is low for the majority of people; exact statistics will be added here soon}}. Workers are treated badly; workplace designs are often unergonomic, unhealthy and unpleasant. | ||
Usually there are simple fixes that bosses either haven't considered, or don't care about because they don't improve profits. {{x|As a society, we should care about making jobs more enjoyable - even if it sacrifices a bit of productivity. Most people spend a large chunk of their lives working.}} | Usually there are simple fixes that bosses either haven't considered, or don't care about because they don't improve profits. {{x|As a society, we should care about making jobs more enjoyable - even if it sacrifices a bit of productivity. Most people spend a large chunk of their lives working.}} | ||
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** (no matter if it's a quick fix or a complete redesign) | ** (no matter if it's a quick fix or a complete redesign) | ||
* There will be pages for every type of job. | * There will be pages for every type of job. | ||
'''With consensus comes power.''' {{x|Radical change (the good kind) is more viable<!-- | '''With consensus comes power.''' {{x|Radical change (the good kind) is more viable<!--and easier to fight for, no matter if it involves protests or any other political action--> when more people are on board. This wiki's approach is to build a clear, shareable vision of how things could be better.}} | ||
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==Quantity== | ==Quantity== | ||
The 40-hour work week was invented{{x|or devised, advocated for}} at a time when ''only men'' worked (mostly). From that perspective, today's work week should really be 20 hours. Less, in fact, because technology can{{x|in principle}} allow more work to be done in less time{{x|even though it doesn't always in practice, due to what [//davidgraeber.org David Graeber] would call [[bullshit jobs]]}}. | The 40-hour work week was invented{{x|or devised, advocated for}}at a time when ''only men'' worked (mostly). From that perspective, today's work week should really be 20 hours. Less, in fact, because technology can{{x|in principle}}allow more work to be done in less time{{x|even though it doesn't always in practice, due to what [//davidgraeber.org David Graeber] would call [[bullshit jobs]]}}. With a shorter work week, people would have far more freedom. | ||
Currently, | Currently, | ||
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<big> | Thus,<br /> | ||
: | <big>if we want a world where people '''work less'''</big> | ||
: {{minor|(where people have more time for friends & family etc.),}} | |||
<big>we have to be honest about what goods & services the world should '''produce less''' of.</big> | <big>we have to be honest about what goods & services the world should '''produce less''' of.</big> | ||
: | : {{minor|It's a tradeoff, but a '''worthwhile''' one.}} | ||
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To some extent, we can reduce production/labor while barely sacrificing quality of life at all. | To some extent, we can reduce production/labor while barely sacrificing quality of life at all. | ||
''' | That's what is meant by ''easy''. But it means fighting ''hard'' against the following things: | ||
* [[Waste]]d goods {{x|whether from businesses or from individuals - waste is effectively the gap between production and consumption}} | |||
* [[Planned obsolescence]] | * [[Planned obsolescence]] | ||
* [[Car dependency]] | * [[Car dependency]] {{x|Although it would probably need more labor in the ''short term'' (to make neighborhoods [[walkable]]), it would reduce the overall labor in the ''long term'', by reducing total vehicle production and fuel consumption. Then again, if the walkability was done to expand the service-based economy, then overall labor wouldn't be reduced at all.}} | ||
* [[Zero-sum jobs]] | * [[Zero-sum jobs]] | ||
* [[ | * Extreme [[inequality of consumption]] {{x|specifically, the extravagant lifestyles of the richest people, which depend heavily on the labor of "lower classes"}} | ||
===Harder sells=== | ===Harder sells=== | ||
If the "easy targets" aren't enough on their own, we can go further{{x|to reduce stress both on workers and on the planet}} if we're willing to change our lifestyles a bit. | If the "easy targets" aren't enough on their own, we can go further{{x|to reduce stress both on workers and on the planet}}if we're willing to change our lifestyles a bit. | ||
{{minor|Note: This applies mostly to the middle classes of developed countries. Don't go around telling poor people to consume less!}} | |||
'''Goods:''' Consumer goods depend heavily on factory labor. We can still have nice things, we just wouldn't replace them as often. Reduce; re-use; see also: [[frugalism]]. | '''Services:''' Some countries have a ''service-based economy''. A shorter work week would mean that people eat less often at restaurants, cafes, fast food etc. {{x|Some argue that cooking at home is also a form of labor. So are there ways to reduce the ''total'' labor involved in food? Yes: Processed food{{x|still needs factory labor, but less overall labor ''per unit''}}. The main problem is its lack of nutrition. I'll probably make another wiki page for solutions to this.}} {{x|Under ideal anarchism, restaurants & bars & nightclubs would be run ''communally'', like a house party or dinner party. No one would have to ''work'' as "staff" per se - it would just be self-serve and anyone could volunteer in the kitchen at any time. This system is fairly viable, as seen in some churches & temples.}} | ||
'''Goods:''' Consumer goods depend heavily on factory labor. We can still have nice things, we just wouldn't replace them as often. Reduce; re-use; see also: [[frugalism]].<!--{{x|Note: This isn't to tell poor people to consume less, but rather to tell middle-class & richer people to consume less.}}--> | |||
In some socialist systems, [[food]] would be completely free, which means that cashiers may not be needed in grocery stores. Other kinds of labor might be needed though.{{qn}} Farmers are always needed in any case, but keep in mind that farming is less than 2% of jobs in highly-industrialized developed countries. {{x|Then again, if we listen to those who advocate for less mechanized farming, then we could expect the amount of agricultural labor to increase. In developed countries, currently most people don't learn farming in school. This would have to change. Teaching kids to grow plants is probably a good thing regardless.}} | In some socialist systems, [[food]] would be completely free, which means that cashiers may not be needed in grocery stores. Other kinds of labor might be needed though.{{qn}} Farmers are always needed in any case, but keep in mind that farming is less than 2% of jobs in highly-industrialized developed countries. {{x|Then again, if we listen to those who advocate for less mechanized farming, then we could expect the amount of agricultural labor to increase. In developed countries, currently most people don't learn farming in school. This would have to change. Teaching kids to grow plants is probably a good thing regardless.}} | ||
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===What about A.I. and automation?=== | ===What about A.I. and automation?=== | ||
This past century is full of technological innovations that increase efficiency{{x|i.e. get the same work done with less human labor}}. We could've reduced the work week long ago, but instead our economy decided{{x|for lack of a better word}} to produce more stuff per capita{{x|more goods & services, to compensate for the increased efficiency}}. | This past century is full of technological innovations that increase efficiency{{x|i.e. get the same work done with less human labor}}. We could've reduced the work week long ago, but instead our economy decided{{x|for lack of a better word}}to produce more stuff per capita{{x|more goods & services, to compensate for the increased efficiency}}. | ||
If we want robots{{x|or to be more general, automation and artificial intelligence}} to ''really'' free us from work this time, we have to break this cycle{{x|because while it's cool to have more things and all, sooner or later it's diminishing returns}}. | If we want robots{{x|or to be more general, automation and artificial intelligence}}to ''really'' free us from work this time, we have to break this cycle{{x|because while it's cool to have more things and all, sooner or later it's diminishing returns}}. | ||
===Implementation=== | ===Implementation=== | ||