Working in America: Continuity, Conflict, and Change in a New Economic Era

The sociology of work textbook covers new topics such as the gig economy, precarious work, retail, call centers, and the post-pandemic workplace, providing a comprehensive overview of the field.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 318 pages
Publication date: 30 December 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive and up-to-date text is designed for courses on the sociology of work, covering a wide range of essential new topics since its last edition in 2015. It remains a valuable resource for students, offering foundational writings and exploring diverse aspects of work, including different types of jobs, inequality, intersectionality, work-family dynamics, and more.

New to this edition:

The Gig Economy and New Digital Platforms: The impact of the gig economy and new digital platforms on the organization of work, including the emergence of freelance and contract-based employment, the challenges faced by precarious workers, and the changing nature of employment relationships.

Precarious Work and Precarious Workers: A focus on the growing prevalence of precarious work, characterized by job insecurity, lack of benefits, and limited control over work conditions. This reflects fundamental changes in employment relationships and the way people think about their jobs.

The New Retail: An exploration of the retail industry, from customer interactions to a world where consumption is driven by data science. This includes the rise of e-commerce, the use of technology in stores, and the changing expectations of consumers.

The Latest Research on Call Centers: A detailed examination of call centers as the archetypal 21st-century workplace, highlighting important issues about interactive work, transnational workplaces, gender, and other aspects of contemporary work.

The Post-Pandemic Workplace: A consideration of the workplace after the COVID-19 pandemic, including the roles of essential workers and frontline workers, healthcare work and care workers, job flexibility, and its implications for gender, work, and family.

In addition to these new topics, the text also includes foundational writings on the sociology of work, such as Max Weber's theory of class and stratification, Karl Marx's analysis of labor power, and Emile Durkheim's study of social integration. It provides a comprehensive and interdisciplinary understanding of the complex dynamics of work and its impact on individuals, organizations, and society as a whole.

This text is an essential resource for students studying the sociology of work, sociology, labor studies, and related fields. It offers a comprehensive and up-to-date analysis of the latest trends and developments in the field, providing students with a solid foundation for understanding and analyzing the world of work in the 21st century.

Weight: 616g
Dimension: 179 x 253 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032058696
Edition number: 5 ed