Work Organization and Alienation in Capitalist Societies

Introduction

James Rinehart argues that under capitalism, people are alienated from their work. They work not because they find it fulfilling, but because they fear unemployment. 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. This paper evaluates Rinehart's argument in the context of a personal work experience.

Rinehart's Theory of Work in Capitalist Societies

A great deal of controversy surrounds the concept of work — what it means to work, and what work means for society (Rinehart, 2006). In his book The 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 while simultaneously developing 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 non-capitalist societies (Rinehart, 2006). In capitalist environments, the labor process is neither joyful nor oriented toward communal development, because wealth is enjoyed by a small number of individuals while the rest — mainly the laborers — are alienated (Rinehart, 2006).

According to Rinehart, 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 accordance with predetermined rules over which they have no control; and (c) from the immediate work process itself (Rinehart, 2006).

Applying Rinehart's Framework to a Personal Work Experience

To evaluate Rinehart's argument, it is useful to compare it against a concrete workplace setting. Consider a position involving twenty hours of work per week at a busy Walmart store — the world's largest retailer, dealing in a wide array of consumer products ranging from foodstuffs and groceries to toys, furniture, stationery, and home appliances. A customer care role in such a setting typically involves giving customers information about new products, purchase plans, and ongoing company initiatives, and responding to any queries they may have about products and service offerings. The work environment is relatively relaxed, with an office space consisting of four walls, a phone, and a computer. The dress code is formal, most work time is spent on the phone talking to customers, and all conversations are recorded for review by a personnel manager.

This workplace setting satisfactorily illustrates Rinehart's description of how work is organized in capitalist societies. First, the worker is alienated from the products of their labor: despite applying creative abilities and interpersonal skills to attract potential customers and keep existing ones satisfied, the employee does not benefit directly from the proceeds those customers generate — the same salary is earned regardless of how many clients are retained. Second, the worker is alienated from the overall organization of the workplace: the employee does not choose the specifications of their office space, the dress code, or their working hours. These are determined by the employer, and the worker simply complies. Third, the worker is alienated from the immediate work process itself: the employee has no say over how work is organized or how it affects them physically and mentally. Every interaction with clients must conform to a specific set of guidelines and is subject to review by a higher authority, even after the employee has demonstrated competence and skill.

The preceding analysis supports Rinehart's view that in capitalist societies, work is not a joyful process, and people work primarily to avoid unemployment rather than out of genuine engagement. Under capitalism, work does not invigorate or stimulate the worker; instead, it depletes their energy and leaves them feeling exhausted. Rinehart's analysis provides crucial insight for understanding the high employee turnover rates observed in most organizations today. Statistics released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in October 2015 showed that 1.9% of persons hired between January and October of that year in the United States 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 — a phenomenon that Rinehart (2006) attributes in part to the failure of capitalist work structures to provide the satisfaction workers expect from their jobs.

Conclusion