Work in This

The sociology of work is more interesting than it seems. Not many colleges choose the topic in A level because even though the primary reason for students to take A levels is to get into work many students recoil in horror from the very mention of the word. Work is a four lettered word. I tried explaining the concept of paid employment to my daughter when she was five and she literally ran from the room screaming. Yet it is a very important part of our society. Sociologist Keith Grint stated that work was essential to individual and societal survival. Weber believed that the protestant work ethic carved out our national identity as a capitalist country (his idea has had many critics). Durkheim, the founding father of sociology as a discipline believed that work was a form of  organic solidarity meaning that it binds society together. Every job we do no matter what is essential for our society functioning normally. We need people he sociology of work is more interesting than it seems. Not many colleges choose the topic in A level because even though the primary reason for students to take A levels is to get into work many students recoil in horror from the very mention of the word. Work is a four lettered word. I tried explaining the concept of paid employment to my daughter when she was five and she literally ran from the room screaming. Yet it is a very important part of our society. Sociologist Keith Grint stated that work was essential to individual and societal survival. Weber believed that the protestant work ethic carved out our national identity as a capitalist country (his idea has had many critics). Durkheim, the founding father of sociology as a discipline believed that work was a form ofto empty our bins, educate us, mend us, serve us in shops, keep the lights on. Everyone in work has a purpose. Marx, of course, thinks that this is wrong. Society is based on exploitation. Capitalism needs inequalities to survive. If inequality didn't exist how would the owners of the means of production generate profit? Far from binding society Marx believed that work alienated people. I remember Mrs Glasgow, my A level sociology explaining it by saying that we should imagine that in pre capitalist times a man made boats, his family helped. he loved his boats and was proud to sell them. He'd stand on a shore and point out to his children which ones he'd made as they bobbed about in the sea. Once factories appeared and boats were mass produced for profit the workers didn't have much pride in their work as they only put rivets in or painted them, they rarely saw the end product. They got a wage. They were alienated from the product as it belonged to someone else.

When this all started Durkheim's view of organic solidarity was much in evidence. We needed the NHS workers, the shelf stackers, the checkout workers, the delivery workers and many more (many teachers have not had the luxury of home teaching, they've been in the classroom teaching vulnerable pupils and those children of key workers. Some have died.) of what we now term key workers. A friend of mine shut up his bike shop on the eve of lock down thinking that he'd lose his business only to find out he was a key worker and his shop has remained open (he contracted the virus). We clapped the NHS workers, politicians paid tribute to them. Those of us who are not front line key workers worked from home. Technology is important here as I've mentioned elsewhere.

The Prime Minister announced on Sunday 10th May that  people who could not work from home should return to work. The details were confusing but it soon appeared to some people that perhaps Marx was correct. Those returning to work were more likely to be what Marxists term as the working class. Those he believed were alienated from their work. The government told them not to use public transport if possible.

Now, the argument is that our economy needs this. We are all dependent on our economy being strong and vibrant. If it is strong we all enjoy the benefits of it. Our leisure time, our interests, our travel are all tied up with this. If it fails then we are limited in our movement and interests. Durkheim would recognise this. As would Grint. Our survival is dependent on a strong economy. So people going back to work is needed. Schools then must open so that the children of these workers have somewhere to go.

Marxists however would point out that there is an inequality of who goes back and who stays at home. There is a class difference. A middle class family will most likely be able to work from home and not send their children back to school in June (councils have said that there will be no fines until September). Many (not all) middle class incomes will remain intact. Others need to work regardless of safety in the workplace.

Work cannot be divided from leisure. Our leisure choices are dependent on people working. I ordered beer from a pub, the landlord drives to my house. My records and magazines are delivered by the postman. Walking needs good footwear. We are often unaware of the people beavering away in order to make life comfortable for us all. Hopefully This will make us appreciate them. Marx would be sceptical.