GCSE REVISION NOTES
Work, unemployment and leisure
Work- is paid activity.
Formal economy- official paid employment tax paid and national insurance
Informal economy- work not officially recorded- 3 types
Hidden economy cash in hard no official pay slips
Domestic economy DIY work at home house work and cleaning
Communal economy voluntary work charity work
Is housework work? Oakely says hw has low status but 77 hrs per week
Why do people work in paid employment?
Intrinsic satisfaction- what you get out of the job ie nurses and teachers caring people like helping the sick
Economic motive- do it for the money or what they get out of the job perks holidays cars extrinsic satisfaction
Social contacts- make friends like company of those they work with- retired ppl lose out socially
Status and identity- high position in society judge professors self esteem is high
What are the different types of employment?
Primary- collecting, extracting raw materials agriculture fishing (manual labour)
Secondary- making things out of raw materials ie furniture from wood (manual labour)
Tertiary- services to others teaching hairdressing not making something (non manual but sometimes manual)
Quaternary- IT support industry (non manual)
Employment in Uk shifted in last 30 years from primary and secondary to tertiary and quaternary
How does paid work affect our non- working lives?
1)life chances- see notes in class
2)family life some jobs lead to working away some great hols some long hours
3)standard of living income and perks from job
4)health affected by your job repeated strain injury caused repeated movements over time
How has work changed? Technological developments
Mechanization- mass production cheaper goods less workers
Division of labour workers not involved in whole process just a small part gets boring for them
Automation monotonous jobs carried out by machines
Information technology- computers control so much now- loss of jobs now all computerised
Is such Technological change good?
Deskilling- workers don’t do complex work
Reskilling- workers dont do boring jobs now they can use machines to help them
What happens at work? Alienation people not involved in whole process feel used
1)lack of power- workers feel helpless
2)lack of meaning- see their work as pointless
3)Isolation may feel cut off from other workers as they are in a small area doing a repetitive job
4)Lack of fulfilment- don’t feel they develop their abilities or achieve their potential
How can employers deal with alienation?
Higher wages- pay them more to make up for boring jobs
Community- have staff does and trips form a community
Complete whole tasks- so workers feel they are making something, job rotation schemes
Share ownership schemes- own company shares
Elected representatives- in management to put forward their views feel part of company
Employee responses to alienation strike, work slow, day dream skiving absenteeism long breaks horse play
What is happening in the world of work?
Equal pay act sex discrimination act- but women earn 80% of men’s wage.
Glass ceiling- women can see men moving up but cant reach there themselves
Invisible walls- segregation in work men and women don’t work together firefighters primary teachers
Why are women unequally represented in the Job market?
1)sex discrimination still exists
2)triple shift- work an then housework/ emotional work at home caring for old and frail and disabled
3)childcare provision poor help from state so mothers stay home til they r in full time school
Why are ethnic minorities unequally represented in the job market?
1)Discrimination- eg medical profession british medical journal applicant 23 sen hse posts name changed
2)Once recruited discriminated in the work place
What happens at retirement?
1)state pensions= low income = poorer lifestyle= poverty
2)loneliness not see anyone
3)ageism low status in society
4)may take up new hobbies
5)join pressure groups or charities
6)if have second pension can have some leisure pursuits
7)look after grand children
What do Trade Unions do?
Trade unions defend and protect workers rights.
Negotiate with management on pay and conditions
Negotiate holidays hours of work health and safety
Provide welfare for members
Campaign for issues like job insecurity and equal opp
Why are unions not as powerful now?
Long term rise in unemployment
Less job security
Part time workers and many others not in unions
Conservative anti union legislation
Industrial relations means how workers get on with employers generally better cooperation
What are different forms of industrial action?
Strikes- refusing to work
Work to rule- stick to rules no over time
Sit in or work in- refuse to leave
Lock out workers not allowed in
What influences strike action?- 1. gvt legislation limited power by tory gvt of 1979-97 2. Economy and unemployment rates 3.Routine work more likely lead to strike 4. Vocational jobs like nursing rare for strike 5. Wage disputes and conditions
How do we measure unemployment?
Base un is the people receiving unemployment benefit. People not able to sign on excluded young ppl
Who is most likely to suffer unemployment?
Young- no experience, no qualifications, no job = unemplOlder workers- long term unempl ageism in employers less efficient slow not dynamicMinority ethnic groups- racism discriminationWomen- sexism
Most likely to be unemployed in north of England and Wales and Scotland- causes of unemployment are decline manufacturing , automation, high tech machines competition from abroad where they have low wages
How does unemployment affect individuals?
Young people- angry frustrated depressed tension at home guilt
Black people- face discrim, racism poor housing
Women- face sexism low status income poor housing
Men- angry depressed lack of masculinity useless failure lack of status loss of self worth and esteem
How does unemployment affect society?
1 Economic costs – paying benefit not on health and public services
2 Inequality in distribution of wealth rising poverty hidden economy and informal market
3 Weak trade unions mean poor working conditions 4 Scapegoating and racism panic fear of losing jobs
5 Social problems increase in death rate and illnesses 6 crime and violence rise too 7 new right say underclass grow and destabilise society 8.communities die ie mining areas of south wales
What is leisure?Leisure is using free time as you like it- unemployment is forced to have free time, retirement is free time due to age. Leisure you don’t get paid for enjoying- ie football in the park not in White Hart Lane.
Unemployment affecting our free time Money stops you doing things- joining gym art classes Get bored with lots of free time Depressed with nothing to do
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