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Friday, October 30, 2020

SOCY 1101 - Intro to Sociology Assignment #7: Optimization of Work, Less Monetary risk and More Turnover

Explain how work for unskilled workers is organized in the low-wage service sector, drawing upon Ritzer's concept of McJobs and O'Neil's concept of software scheduling.

The unskilled work of the modern era has been optimized down to its smallest nitpicking. It has turned a large portion of the service industry from peoples to robots. Ritzer describes this transformation as McDonaldization of the work. The entire workforce from the top to the bottom is under corporate optimization. Everything from the lines said by the workers to the solutions presented by managers is controlled by the corporate policy. The work is optimized for a reason though, as turnover is high. Many of the workers are young and part-time workers that often leave as soon as a better job comes rolling around the corner. Optimization helps keep the business running by making sure that each worker is easily replaceable. Work is repetitive and easy to learn so new workers can easily pick up where the others left out.


All this optimization is great for growth. It ensures that despite changes in the labor force, the company can continue to conduct efficient business. However, it is hell for the worker. For the worker, flexibility and non-repetitive tasks allow for growth. Repetitive tasks done repeatedly bore the mind and burn out workers. The optimization also allows for finer tune movement of the scheduling of shifts. With dynamic computers, shifts can be changed on the fly and workers can even be forced into the dreaded clopenings roles. The worker is essentially optimized to the point where they are replaceable sacks of meat that can be easily swapped out. With the growth of apps and software, this is guaranteed to continue to expand to other job roles. 

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