Myths at Work

During the last two decades there have been profound changes in the organization of work. <i>Myths at</i> <i>Work</i> explores these changes, critically examining and challenging some of the central frameworks that have been used to explain them. <p>Global economic restructuring has brought about changes in the jobs we do, our labour market opportunities, and the shape of our individual career paths. These changes have been explained through a number of potent ‘myths’ (in the sense of widely-held bodies of ideas) including globalization, post-fordist production methods, and a new consumer-based form of capitalism. The authors examine these myths, explain how they have come about, and question their accuracy. While doing so they provide a more accurate picture of employment and the modern workplace. They also look at the ‘myths’ of the feminisation of the labour force, the skills revolution, lean production, non-standard employment, the death of class, the end of trade unionism, and the ‘economic worker’.</p> <p>The result is an illuminating and accessible teaching and research text that will appeal to students and academics in the sociology of work, organizational behaviour, business studies, and related areas.</p>