In Estranged Labor the worker is treated like an object and not a real human being. The worker is there to just do their job and in return take nothing. This idea is apparent when comparing a jewelry store owned as a sole proprietorship and a large corporation. In a corporation, a jeweler may work in an assembly line where each individual is in charge of a certain task. Those tasks include setting a stone, polishing, engraving, soldering, fixing broken chains, or repairing jewelry in general, casting, drawing, or making wax molds. In a small business, the same tasks apply, however, are completed by one or two individuals. In this case, the individuals work towards perfecting the entire job cohesively rather than simply just doing their part. In other words, employees in a large corporation work robotically, whereas in a small company, employees work toward a common goal because they feel like they are part of the business.
Those employees working for a large corporation in an assembly line simply complete the task at hand and do not expand into other areas of the project. Instead, they are in charge of doing one specific job. These individuals are paid based on the number of jobs they complete rather than doing quality work. In a large corporation that involves an assembly line, employees are doing their job just to get a paycheck. Basically, there may be hundreds of employees doing the same job and it doesn’t matter how good of a job they do because they all have the same common goal, which is getting the same paycheck. Employees may overachieve with a personal goal to move up in the company. However, the employer may view promoting the employee would reduce productivity in the assembly line because that key component to the assembly line could reduce production. At this time an employee becomes a commodity because he or she is so valuable to his or her current position within the company where efficiency would be reduced without him or her. In my opinion, this may be a strong argument for maintaining the level of production in the short term. However, promoting that employee may allow him or her to train others to perform better, thus creating greater efficiencies in the long term. At times laborers in a business become so familiar with the commodities they produce, they actually become the commodity. Employees become so skilled with their roles that if it weren’t for those particular laborers or employees and their abilities, the commodities they produce may no longer exist.
Employees are viewed as commodities by competing firms as well. Recruiters may pay a premium to purchase a human asset in order to increase production or improve quality of work. In the example with a jewelry store, a master of all tasks is much more valuable to a company than a jeweler who simply does one task in the assembly line.
In large businesses, employees may feel alienated from their products because they do not see the end result. Whereas in a small business, the product is completed from start to finish by one or two employees. Jewelers are able to see the customer satisfaction first hand and feel a sense of accomplishment. In a small business a jeweler may not make as much money but may not feel as alienated. Instead, they feel like they are part of the business. Also, they may have more freedom and flexibility as compared to working in a larger corporation.
A gentleman David Nelson knew the jewelry business from working in a corporate environment. He didn’t like the way the workers were treated and decided to open up a small jewelry store of his own. Workers were forced to meet sales goals in order to keep their jobs. In the new store, Dave encourages customer service. He isn’t pushy in trying to make sales. Instead, he backs his product and lets the product sell itself. The store does all custom work in the shop and sells high-end jewelry. It has now been open now for over twenty-five years. Mr. Nelson is the commodity because he makes all the decisions. Every customer that comes in the store wants to speak to David Nelson. He is very active in the local community. The business is able to compete with corporate jewelry stores such as Jared and Kay’s Jewelers because of his influence in the local community. He does not need commercial advertisement to draw the local market into his store. Instead, his customers trust him. The work is high quality and customers refer others to the shop because of their satisfaction. Without Mr. Nelson running the business, it may be difficult to remain profitable.
Those employees working for a large corporation in an assembly line simply complete the task at hand and do not expand into other areas of the project. Instead, they are in charge of doing one specific job. These individuals are paid based on the number of jobs they complete rather than doing quality work. In a large corporation that involves an assembly line, employees are doing their job just to get a paycheck. Basically, there may be hundreds of employees doing the same job and it doesn’t matter how good of a job they do because they all have the same common goal, which is getting the same paycheck. Employees may overachieve with a personal goal to move up in the company. However, the employer may view promoting the employee would reduce productivity in the assembly line because that key component to the assembly line could reduce production. At this time an employee becomes a commodity because he or she is so valuable to his or her current position within the company where efficiency would be reduced without him or her. In my opinion, this may be a strong argument for maintaining the level of production in the short term. However, promoting that employee may allow him or her to train others to perform better, thus creating greater efficiencies in the long term. At times laborers in a business become so familiar with the commodities they produce, they actually become the commodity. Employees become so skilled with their roles that if it weren’t for those particular laborers or employees and their abilities, the commodities they produce may no longer exist.
Employees are viewed as commodities by competing firms as well. Recruiters may pay a premium to purchase a human asset in order to increase production or improve quality of work. In the example with a jewelry store, a master of all tasks is much more valuable to a company than a jeweler who simply does one task in the assembly line.
In large businesses, employees may feel alienated from their products because they do not see the end result. Whereas in a small business, the product is completed from start to finish by one or two employees. Jewelers are able to see the customer satisfaction first hand and feel a sense of accomplishment. In a small business a jeweler may not make as much money but may not feel as alienated. Instead, they feel like they are part of the business. Also, they may have more freedom and flexibility as compared to working in a larger corporation.
A gentleman David Nelson knew the jewelry business from working in a corporate environment. He didn’t like the way the workers were treated and decided to open up a small jewelry store of his own. Workers were forced to meet sales goals in order to keep their jobs. In the new store, Dave encourages customer service. He isn’t pushy in trying to make sales. Instead, he backs his product and lets the product sell itself. The store does all custom work in the shop and sells high-end jewelry. It has now been open now for over twenty-five years. Mr. Nelson is the commodity because he makes all the decisions. Every customer that comes in the store wants to speak to David Nelson. He is very active in the local community. The business is able to compete with corporate jewelry stores such as Jared and Kay’s Jewelers because of his influence in the local community. He does not need commercial advertisement to draw the local market into his store. Instead, his customers trust him. The work is high quality and customers refer others to the shop because of their satisfaction. Without Mr. Nelson running the business, it may be difficult to remain profitable.