The Nostalgia for Permanence at Work? The End of Work and its Commentators

Abstract

This article examines a contemporary trend in the sociology of work that is labelled here the 'end of work' debate after Jeremy Rifkin's book of the same name. It explores this trend, suggesting that marked similarities exist between a range of authors in Europe and North America who propose that work regimes and the meaning derived from them are changing fundamentally. This literature is then placed in the context of an older canon on decline in work and employment. Using the insights of newer qualitative studies that have emerged over the last decade it is suggested that much of the 'end of work' type of writing over-generalises a complex situation, suggesting that sociology needs to incorporate macro theorisation with detailed empirical research if it is to properly understand changes in the contemporary world of work.

Graduate Employability: A Review of Conceptual and Empirical Themes

“…The relatively stable and coherent employment narratives that individuals traditionally enjoyed have given way to more fractured and uncertain employment futures brought about by the intensity and inherent precariousness of the new short-term, transactional capitalism (Strangleman, 2007). Rather than being insulated from these new challenges, highly educated graduates are likely to be at the sharp end of the increasing intensification of work, and its associated pressures around continual career management.…”

“Time(x) Out of Joint”

“…Employment relations were expected to reflect this emergent phase of unprecedented consensus given the overcoming of outdated industrial disagreements. Moreover, it is certain that the prolonged and extremely visible Timex dispute provoked nostalgic sentiments (Gabriel, 1993;Hay, 1996;Strangleman, 1999Strangleman, , 2007, as angry workers bearing placards with Marxist slogans revived images of a past not yet successfully buried (Crow, 2005).…”

“…As opposed to malevolent visitations, another reading of the ghost metaphor has been a nostalgic hearkening back to a pre-crisis era of (perceived) harmony. For example, in Strangleman's (1999Strangleman's ( , 2007 Monde, 2011). Similarly, the Economist characterises it as a "spectre that haunts…”

“…In the context of industrial disputes, this maps onto a story of a golden past marked by solidarity, community and fraternity (Davis, 2002;Strangleman, 1999Strangleman, , 2007). …”

Fair trade and community supported agriculture (CSA) as middle class social movements in Hong Kong

“…In this regard, job enrichment was strongly related to meaningfulness and negative work attitudes related to meaninglessness (Strangleman, 2007) Then I really felt I wanted to do something to help them and wanted to respond to the problem of social injustice in the world. In 2005, the WTO was held in Hong Kong and many NGOs came to discuss the problems about globalization and trade injustice.…”