Organization of Work in Capitalist Societies James Rinehart

James Rinehart: Organization of Work in Capitalist Societies Organization of Work in Capitalist Societies: James Rinehart James Rinehart opines that under capitalism, people are alienated. They work only because they do not want to remain unemployed, and not because they enjoy working. In Rinehart's view, workers in capitalist societies are alienated from the purposes and products of their labor, from the overall organization of the workplace, and from the immediate work process itself. In this text, I evaluate Rinehart's argument based on my current job sphere.

James Reinhart: Organization of Work in Capitalist Societies A lot of controversy surrounds the concept of work, what it means to work, and what work means for society (Rinehart, 2006). In his book, Tyranny of Work, James Rinehart explains the concept of work within the context of the human condition. In his view, creative labor is the process by which people produce their material needs and at the same time develop the culture that sustains their emotional, spiritual and deeply human qualities (Rinehart, 2006).

Free, creative work helps us define ourselves, our society, and our relationships (Rinehart, 2006). This type of labor is, however, only possible in communist societies (Rinehart, 2006). In capitalist environments, the labor process is neither joyful nor geared towards communal development because wealth is enjoyed by just a few individuals and the rest (who are mainly the laborers) are alienated (Rinehart, 2006).

According to the author, work in capitalist societies is organized in such a way that workers are alienated: a) from the purposes and products of their labor, which are largely appropriated by their employers; b) from the overall organization of the workplace as they are required to act in line with predetermined rules that they have no control over; and c) from the immediate work process itself (Rinehart, 2006). In order to evaluate Rinehart's argument, I will compare it with my current job sphere.

I currently work twenty hours a week at a busy Walmart store. Walmart is the world's largest retailer, dealing in a wide array of consumer products ranging from foodstuffs to toys, groceries, furniture, stationary, and home appliances. I hold a customer care position, where my main duties include giving information to customers on new products, purchase plans and ongoing company initiatives, and responding to any queries they may have about the products and service offerings at the branch.

Mine is a relaxed work environment and my office space includes four walls, a phone, and a computer. The dress code is formal, and most of my work time is spent on the phone talking to customers. All aspects of my work are done through the phone and the computer, and the conversations I have with customers are recorded for review by the personnel manager. My current job sphere satisfactorily satisfies Rinehart's description of how work is organized in capitalist societies.

I am alienated from the products of my labor because despite using my creative abilities and interpersonal skills to attract potential customers and keep existing ones satisfied, I do not lay hands on, or benefit directly from the proceeds brought in by these customers -- I earn the same salary regardless of the number of clients I bring in.

Moreover, I am alienated from the overall organization of the workplace -- I do not choose the specifications for my office space, the dress code, or when I am supposed to report for work. These are determined by my employer, and I only live by what they choose. Finally, I am alienated from the immediate work process itself -- I have no say over how the work is organized and how it affects me physically and mentally.

Everything I say to clients has to be within a specific set of guidelines and has to be reviewed by a higher authority, despite the fact that I have already proven my skill and abilities. Significance of Rinehart's Analysis The preceding section supports Rinehart's view that in capitalist societies, work is not a joyful process, and people only work because they need to keep themselves from becoming bored. Under capitalism, therefore, work does not invigorate or stimulate the worker; rather, it burns up their energy and leaves them feeling exhausted.

Rinehart's analysis provides crucial insight for understanding the high employee turnover rates in most organizations today. Statistics released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in October last year showed that 1.9% of persons hired between January and October, 2015 in the U.S. quit their jobs, compared to only 1.2% who were laid off (BLS, 2015). This indicates that organizations are finding it increasingly difficult to retain their employees, and this, as Rinehart (2006) points out, is partly because people are.