The changing nature of work

The meanings attached to work have changed with the developments in human
societies. Work was considered a punishment for disobedience to God. Work was
expected to be done and not to be enjoyed. Noble people enjoyed leisure and got work
done. The Romans kept slaves to perform work and engage themselves and intellectual
activities because work involves physical activity which is mundane.
Religion played an important role in changing the perception of work. Teaching
religion demanded dedication of a lifetime which meant the necessity to work so work
became worship.
Four reasons for work were
To ensure subsistence
To create something useful
To develop oneself
To be the harmony with the environment
This work ethic facilitated rapid industrialization and technological advancements.
People working together created interdependence and work culture.
Governments ensure free flow of trade and healthy competition.
The synergy between man and technology promoted industry and helped in the
development of capital. Difficult and dirty jobs were assigned automatic machines,
computers and now to robots. Relieving the worker of hard work meant giving a chance
to refresh and start work again.
Generating income remains a predominant reason for working.
The nature of work has changed from being labor to being employed.
Work thus is seen as
A variety and challenge to test one’s ability and develop competence rather than test
physical stamina
An opportunity to learn and to develop.
A method of getting social support and recognition.
A way of relating work with life
A desirable future.
Work hence improves the quality of life.

Marxist approach to work suggests that

Work is external to the worker and involves a feeling of misery rather than fulfillment.
Work demands physical and mental exhaustion and is hence imposed rather than done
voluntarily.
Work causes alienation from the family, community, religion, and politics.
This leads to dissatisfaction that results in absenteeism, low productivity and sabotages of
work.
Even white collared jobs can lead to dissatisfaction.
The concept that work is worship is slowly reducing and that enjoying life is becoming
more important than working.

The Indian approach to work

The Bhagwad Gita preaches that the practice of work, rather than its avoidance,
helps us to reach the highest bliss. Doing work was doing one’s duty without any
expectation or reward. Work was a part of the social responsibility of the individual.
Caste determined the nature of work.

During the British rule western work culture was used to manage Indian industry.
Emotional aloofness and high control over the workers were its characteristics. This was
an inherited by the Indian managers after the British left.
Indian culture promoted a relationship that the superior is expected to nurture, be
dominant and the subordinate always remains dependent.
Post- independence industry grew significantly, western technology was imported but
the western approach to the work was not incorporated by the Indian employee. This was
because-
Technology contributed to employment and continuance of the dependency role.
Employee welfare measures provided a means of social justice.
By convincing the employees that technology meant their progress.
Building plants and factories with excess capacity that was operational with gaps.
Manufacturing products that were profitable but were socially required by the weaker
sections.
Public sector was more expanding than the private sector initially. With the
unavailability of managers, IAS officers were appointed for their management. They
instilled the bureaucratic style of management. They helped in creating more and more
files, practicing rigid procedures, impersonalizing managerial practices and promoting
political interference became prevalent.
Later, Indian managers came from the middle class of society. They carried with
them their middle class values. Most workers were from the rural area and brought
cultural values in their most raw form.
There exists a culture of “aram” which is rest and relaxation without doing hard work.
This is characterized by a large number of employees just sitting around doing nothing,
coming late to office and leaving early, receiving and entertaining friends during office
hours, using the telephone for personal purposes, chatting over cups of tea and coffee
thereby allowing work to suffer. Work done is with slow and clumsy actions, indifferent
attitudes and the lack of consideration for others. Work is looked to as a favor towards
others.
Organizations have fuzzy boundaries because of societal forces such as caste politics,
familial influences, linguistic diversity and political connections which alter the power
distribution in them. There is an equilibrium that is established with these forces.
In India, most workers are located in the agricultural rather than industrial sector.
They have missed the experiences that could have been gained by the industrial
revolution and so remain alien to the large and impersonalized organizations.