Throughout these past two weeks in class we have already learned and discussed so much that it makes me eager to see what the rest of the semester has in store for us. I have volunteered with the homeless on numerous accounts, but I am interested to learn more about them through this class and our internships. This week in class we focused on a book titled, “Nickel and Dimed” By: Barbara Ehrenreich. I read this book my freshman year for my “Introduction to Sociology” class, but it was nice to reread it with a new perspective and focus. Whenever someone reads something for a second or third time their will always be new things to discover that weren’t noticed the first time. While reading, one of the biggest things that stuck out to me was the unreliable job posts ads. I understood the company’s side saying it is “their insurance policy” in case someone gets hurt or is fired then they always have an applicant to fall back on. However, this is not fair to the people who are genuinely trying to find a job and earn a living. It is also not right for employers to use this to scare their employees by reminding them how easily replaceable they are. There are many shocking stories of different work environments in this book, but this scam grabbed my attention the most. I think it caught my attention the most because I had never heard of company’s doing this prior to reading the book, let alone using it as “insurance.” I hope not only publishing fake ads changes, but all work environments that are not physically, emotionally, or mentally healthy for a person to be working in. Personally though, I do believe unskilled jobs are targeted with unfairness because employers are taking advantage of those who will accept any job.
2 thoughts on “Blog Post #1”
Comments are closed.
I agree when you say those who will take any job are taken advantage of. Many times in my life, I have seen hard, HARD workers doing difficult tasks for far below what they deserve to be paid. Employers know they can charge low because someone will take it anyway.
I once worked for a janitorial service. I cleaned a hospital very well, in the middle of the night, in Rialto (not safe!). I was not paid what I deserved, but hey, it was a job.
Could not agree more. Its sickening how often low income workers are treated with great disrespect due to their financial standings or social rankings. This can go along the lines of the inequality of workers income to the amount of product they are producing. The company itself is receiving more money due to the workers, yet the workers do not deserve to get paid the appropriate amount for the actual labor they are producing?? Extremely unfair and I think you explained this issue of treatment very well throughout your post.