tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post7225002036669897908..comments2024-03-28T03:40:29.423-04:00Comments on Passage des Perles: Precarity: How tenuous employment enables abuseDuchessehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09986153653120526776noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-8347424848328399822014-04-21T14:29:10.636-04:002014-04-21T14:29:10.636-04:00catofspace: Thank you for the reference, an excell...catofspace: Thank you for the reference, an excellent study and downloadable for free! <br /><br />I found one of the facts astonishing:<br />"Currently, only<br />half of working aged Canadians have had a single full-time job for over six months or more." (p. 18).<br /><br />Enjoyed the Rick Mercer rant, too.Duchessehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09986153653120526776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-72373520134015636202014-04-21T14:13:25.734-04:002014-04-21T14:13:25.734-04:00Employment/working conditions are recognized as a ...Employment/working conditions are recognized as a social determinant of health by the WHO (http://www.who.int/social_determinants/themes/employmentconditions/en/) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ph-sp/determinants/determinants-eng.php#employment). <br /><br />Would recommend "The Social Determinants of Health: The Canadian Facts" for a breakdown of the current situation and various policy implications/recommendations:<br />http://www.thecanadianfacts.org/The_Canadian_Facts.pdf<br />- Unemployment and Job Security (p. 17)<br />- Employment and Working Conditions (p. 20) <br /><br />PS A Rick Mercer rant on unpaid internships: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eH2c58g6oIAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-48297191097669245602014-04-14T18:31:36.374-04:002014-04-14T18:31:36.374-04:00I've known too many people who are laid off or...I've known too many people who are laid off or retired then rehired as independent contractors with no benefits. Precarity is all to common in too many fields including higher education and health care. I've seen in the hospitals and doctors offices as well, as so many other places. It is not just young people.<br /><br />I know of some attempts to organize some nurses aides and health care aides, but it is mostly unsuccessful. There have been bills presented to congress but they are easily defeated. I think businesses have a right to protect their bottom line, but I've also run more than one business and it is possible to be profitable and successful while still treating your workers in a reasonable and humane way. <br /><br />This is one of those issues that won't go away until enough people refuse to accept it.<br />Mardelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04850551308931710502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-37936534850015581052014-04-14T14:53:30.164-04:002014-04-14T14:53:30.164-04:00Susan: Each generation has yielded its share of op...Susan: Each generation has yielded its share of opportunistic raiders. What I do notice is that in my youth most of the jobs my son has held would have been union jobs. Duchessehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09986153653120526776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-20650544694507257212014-04-14T14:47:59.855-04:002014-04-14T14:47:59.855-04:00Murphy: I have no one-size answer; J. is by choice...Murphy: I have no one-size answer; J. is by choice oriented to trades-type work. My utilitarian views on university education inflame some friends and family and can be summarized by: "Art History BA? I hope you have a private income."Duchessehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09986153653120526776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-80310020272513463632014-04-14T14:11:21.658-04:002014-04-14T14:11:21.658-04:00I am late to the discussion but this has been on m...I am late to the discussion but this has been on my mind of late. My two older children are both college educated - they did well at good schools in the US. But when it comes to work, most options are for part-time jobs with low pay, and for which they are over-qualified. They are both willing to work more hours or work-their-way up, but have been told that management limits hours and overtime pay so as not to have to make benefits available. I really worry about whether they will ever be able to support themselves at a decent level without help. When being smart, educated, hard-working and willing are not enough, what can we tell them?Murphynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-43383177422320755232014-04-13T22:20:31.577-04:002014-04-13T22:20:31.577-04:00I hate to break this to those who are blaming the ...I hate to break this to those who are blaming the Boomers for the downturn in job security and pay--but it is the generation after the boomers who are managing/creating many of the private equity companies which are buying and selling companies for profit--without a care as to what happens to employees. Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12756033682201519150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-15069950620976803622014-04-13T10:42:45.969-04:002014-04-13T10:42:45.969-04:00The author of "Who Stole the American Dream&q...The author of "Who Stole the American Dream" is Hedrick Smith.Ritahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03885016833329869945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-27791269440309007412014-04-12T09:10:00.253-04:002014-04-12T09:10:00.253-04:00Susan: Many workers that we, as clients think are ...Susan: Many workers that we, as clients think are full time are not. I have met seasonal UPS drivers at soup kitchens where I have volunteered.<br /><br />Kristien62: Having a union does not mean the conditions are good but they should be better. There are some inept unions, though.<br /><br />lagatta: Thanks for this. At his resto, the staff were terrified of complaint. I think the only way to do it is a class action suit.<br /><br />LPC: You wrote while ago about upping your quota of hard news reading; this, I predict will put this term before you more. <br /><br />Eve: We all knew it was illegal. They are scared. But I believe witnessing this kind of abuse will bear fruit; as I said, they have become far more politicized. <br /><br />Vagabonde: I've posted before on unpaid overtime, probably the most common abuse. the "lieu time off" is suspicious; I too have seen it offered but just try to take it. I can imagine how you feel bout the US maternity leave policy! <br /><br />Duchessehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09986153653120526776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-7494417657739130882014-04-11T23:38:33.870-04:002014-04-11T23:38:33.870-04:00That was a fascinating post as well as all the com...That was a fascinating post as well as all the comments. I had never heard of précarité but it certainly describes the problems with those jobs. I am pleased to be retired. I worked for 27 years for a large corporation – towards the last five years they would ask us to work up to 8 hours extra per week, unpaid, as a gift to the company, and then they would give us “compensation time” for any extra hours, but we had to take this time off within 3 months or lose it, and usually we were too busy to take the time off. However half of the work force was unionized – the “hourly” so the other half, the management side (my side) would get the same benefits usually, such as extra paid vacations between Christmas and New Year, and working 9 hours per day for 9 days so we could take every other Friday off, plus working our 9 hours starting anytime between 5 am and 9 am – so all this helped a lot, then also I have a pension now (which was eliminated for new employees.) <br /><br />It seems to me that employees in the US, at least, don’t organize to demand more benefits. For example, in the US, there is no law for employers to give paid vacations. In Europe it is the law. While my daughters were little I worked part-time for a man who said he would give me a week’s vacation after one year. Then he told me he had changed his mind and added that he did not have to give me any vacation anyway. I quit after 1 ½ years – he was a Frenchman by the way working in the US…..Vagabondehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10774109692564954568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-8870594141970173352014-04-11T13:48:31.629-04:002014-04-11T13:48:31.629-04:00Au Bas de l'échelle (literally on the bottom r...Au Bas de l'échelle (literally on the bottom rung, though its English name is Rank and File) is an association for advocacy and defence of non-unionized workers. http://www.aubasdelechelle.ca/<br /><br />It is located close to the Jean-Talon Market. <br /><br />lagatta à montréalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02610410709900333230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-53475594285225762652014-04-11T12:35:44.982-04:002014-04-11T12:35:44.982-04:00I am shocked that his employer made him pay for cl...I am shocked that his employer made him pay for clothing that he is required to wear. In Quebec,this is ILLEGAL. It is too bad that none of the workers felt they could file a complaint about this flagrant abuse.<br />If the abuser is not exposed or fined, he will continue abusing, that's for sure.<br /><br />EveAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-33345472637582101902014-04-11T10:56:50.411-04:002014-04-11T10:56:50.411-04:00I had never heard this term, "precarity,"...I had never heard this term, "precarity," but I think it's a very good one. Finding work that satisfies - a lifestyle, a culture, and a set of compatible tasks - is as Freud told us as important as love. <br /><br />I believe in the right, and in the fact the requirement of businesses to manage to their bottom line. That's how the machinery of an economy drives productivity best. But we should be well into making our businesses as humane as possible, and these stories to me are stories of petty human beings indulging their bad behavior. <br /><br />Glad your son has found a career with some staying power.LPChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18209861350905135093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-36071023398782002422014-04-11T09:56:27.335-04:002014-04-11T09:56:27.335-04:00There was an attempt to unionize the workers at th...There was an attempt to unionize the workers at the first nursing home, but it was unsuccessful. I believe there was fear that jobs would be lost. The second one I worked at was state-run and had a union. The workers faired much better. Sadly, it was a terrible place to work, union or not, and I would have stayed at the first facility if wages were not so disparate. I haven't been in touch with the folks from the first facility and hope that they were able to get representation.Kristien62https://www.blogger.com/profile/04141776821818167047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-23992327150387556982014-04-11T09:46:30.422-04:002014-04-11T09:46:30.422-04:00Anon@11:26: Actually, the "greatest generatio...Anon@11:26: Actually, the "greatest generation" were the boomer's •parents•, the people who lived through the Depression and fought in WWII. Also known as the "GI Generation", they came home from the war and made those boomers.<br /><br />Blaming an entire, diverse generation for "having their way with the economy and business" because of their age is erroneous causality. <br /><br />Ask yourself, "Who supports this increasing precarity, and who supports fair, inclusive work policy?" <br /><br /><br /> <br /> <br /><br /> Duchessehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09986153653120526776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-30595723119804160052014-04-11T09:20:37.908-04:002014-04-11T09:20:37.908-04:00Anon@10:46; I kept the issue of exec pay out of th...Anon@10:46; I kept the issue of exec pay out of this post for reasons of brevity, but of course it's part of the mix. The issue of precarity is rising to the fore among workers in all developed countries. <br /><br />NN Bartley: I wish I could put my arms around you, and your son. My wish is that he finds something that lights a spark in him. He may have to try this, try that. <br /><br />Working for minimum wage is a way to keep yourself afloat when you're learning and weighing options. <br />Duchessehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09986153653120526776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-60804872557345109692014-04-11T09:17:39.355-04:002014-04-11T09:17:39.355-04:00I haven't read the comments yet, but want to s...I haven't read the comments yet, but want to say that I have seen what you describe happening over many many years. And, there are those who would say that precarious jobs are for youths--and they are just entry level jobs anyway. I've watched UPS drivers (who have a lot of responsibility) be denied a full time position so the company can save providing certain benefits. It is also popular to be critical of unions. <br /><br />I think there needs to be a change. I would like to see everyone take up this cause. You could say that the minimum wage issue in the United States is but one small part of this same battle. Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12756033682201519150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-48435017612627518382014-04-11T09:04:34.466-04:002014-04-11T09:04:34.466-04:00lagatta: The workforce is moving to ever more work...lagatta: The workforce is moving to ever more work that does not follow an employer-employee model; the key is to figure out how to embed equitable practices in such an arrangement. Before the industrial revolution relatively little work was conducted by that model; we need to return to self-managed work that is not exploitive. To me that speaks of either a new era for unions, or government programs that extend UI and other benefits to those formerly restricted from them. <br /><br />Anon@7:02: As a contractor to multinational corporations and government for over 25 years, I say, it's all about the contractor's rate of pay, and then, his or her discipline in managing that money. I funded my own vacation pay, pension and other benefits I would have received as an employee. (I was significantly helped by having universal healthcare here in Canada.)<br /><br />And in one of those corporations, WorldComm, those "huge retirement benefits promised to older workers" vanished when the company's executives were indicted for fraud and the money had vanished. So imagine how those retirees or even middle aged workers felt. <br /><br />Anon@12:55; I am deeply grateful people are speaking out here but hope this is not just a cathartic vent. Find out who has an interest in organizing these people. Write letters, demonstrate, lobby. Love you for writing me but in a way I am the wrong person. Let's go! <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br />Duchessehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09986153653120526776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-35499919098285637412014-04-11T07:02:28.604-04:002014-04-11T07:02:28.604-04:00This seismic shift in the work world has been play...This seismic shift in the work world has been playing out for a long time, at least 15. It started with different wage bands for new hires versus the older workers in the union jobs or now when you say that losing 8,000 jobs in CDA Post is okay because it's "attrition". <br /><br />The older workers generally go along with it because they themselves are not affected, I'm all right Jack pull up your bootstraps. As long as I get my pension all is right in the world. The 1 percenters kids are never affected, they all get job placements through the good-ole boys networks, like say Mulroney's kid getting a TV gig. <br /><br />I would be hugely resentful if all I could get was a contract gov job and the reason for it is because they promised such huge retirement benefits to the older workers that they can't afford to hire any new ones.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-35366776838579383842014-04-11T00:55:51.842-04:002014-04-11T00:55:51.842-04:00I think I know what UneFemme (Pseu) in the above c...I think I know what UneFemme (Pseu) in the above comment is referring to. I won't name the entertainment company either but it is a major film studio. Actually, there are MANY film companies firing people and then hiring temps or part-time employees just so they don't have to pay for healthcare and other employee benefits. There is rampant unethical behavior and greed. <br /><br />My husband also works in the film industry and sees this happening even more than before the economy nose-dived. Of course employees don't want to make waves because they NEED whatever they can get. Many employees work tons of overtime and no longer get paid for it, but don't complain for fear it will look bad on them, not the employer. They are afraid it may compromise future employability. It is deplorable.<br /><br />It sounds like your son is on the right track. Good luck to him :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-51493096490117671762014-04-10T23:26:33.091-04:002014-04-10T23:26:33.091-04:00This is what comes of letting boomers have their w...This is what comes of letting boomers have their way with the economy and business. "Greatest generation" my foot.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-78825519231940988802014-04-10T22:46:42.283-04:002014-04-10T22:46:42.283-04:00Both your post and the comments are depressingly f...Both your post and the comments are depressingly familiar in Australia. Both public and private employers are using similar techniques to circumvert both the laws of the land and the laws of fairness. They are aided and abetted by governments of both left and right, determined to "increase our productivity." CEOs in all industries earn obscene amounts while preaching the need for their workers to tighten their belts, be available for work at any time, accept poorer conditions. <br />Many Unions have lost trust and respect through both recent corruption scandals and also their failure over many years to defend or even recognize the needs of part time workers, particularly women and parents juggling careers with parenthood.<br />It will have to change, but I am not optimistic it will happen before a whole generation are disadvantaged and damaged.<br />LilibetAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-49364697765714316062014-04-10T19:38:28.306-04:002014-04-10T19:38:28.306-04:00Wow! Very well written and I had not heard the ter...Wow! Very well written and I had not heard the term "precariat" but totally think it needs to be out there. I have a 22 yr old that has been in a depression and part of that stems from the "why bother" attitude. Go to college, for what? Work minimum wage? Why? <br />I used to think "poor them" of my brother and sister in laws that had unionized jobs but now as my self employed husband and I reach retirement age-his siblings are set for the long term and somehow that "save for the future" thing for us doesn't seem to be looking so hot.<br />Thanks for a thought provoking read.Nancie N Bartleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03943116376807209833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-78352595309627381612014-04-10T19:37:36.031-04:002014-04-10T19:37:36.031-04:00Wow! Very well written and I had not heard the ter...Wow! Very well written and I had not heard the term "precariat" but totally think it needs to be out there. I have a 22 yr old that has been in a depression and part of that stems from the "why bother" attitude. Go to college, for what? Work minimum wage? Why? <br />I used to think "poor them" of my brother and sister in laws that had unionized jobs but now as my self employed husband and I reach retirement age-his siblings are set for the long term and somehow that "save for the future" thing for us doesn't seem to be looking so hot.<br />Thanks for a thought provoking read. Nancie N Bartleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03943116376807209833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872918251244874644.post-59944375192041896792014-04-10T19:27:10.209-04:002014-04-10T19:27:10.209-04:00Yes, but there are a lot of "fake" freel...Yes, but there are a lot of "fake" freelancers, because employers don't want to provide benefits. It is not an all or none situation. That is one thing that emerged clearly from our local meeting here. lagatta à montréalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02610410709900333230noreply@blogger.com