Padded Prowess: A Veblenian Interpretation of the Long Hours of Salaried Workers

A Brief History of Long Work Time and the Contemporary Sources of Overwork

“…Indeed, those who work overtime even when it is not mandatory tend to be from the relatively higher income households (Golden and Wiens-Tuers, 2005). One potential counter force is if respect is accorded those who work few hours yet produce much value per hour (Haight, 1997), perhaps in lieu of pay (Ellingsen and Johannesson, 2007). However, the term S will be unambiguously positive if more respect is granted just for being busy (Gershuny, 2005).…”

Making Sense of Temporal Organizational Boundary Control

“…Previous research has shown how organizations exert control through managerial action (Perlow, 1998), or through imposition of organizational cultural values (Peters et al, 1984), how individuals become aware of and resist organizational controls (Bradshaw et al, 1997;Casey, 1999), and how individuals can impose organizational controls on themselves (Barker, 1993)(Ezamel and Willmott). We also know that putting in time is an important part of how people are evaluated, given the complexity of knowledge work and post-modern organizations (Haight, 1997;Perlow, 1998).…”

Travailler au-delà de 48 heures par semaine

“…La mise en concurrence des salariés et leur évaluation sur la base du temps de présence (VAN ECHTELT et al, 2006 ;LANDERS et al, 1996 ;BRETT, STROH, 2003) peuvent expliquer le maintien de longues durées de travail parmi les cadres d'entreprise : le désir de travailler au moins autant que ses collègues peut éloigner durablement les durées offertes des durées souhaitées initialement. De même des mécanismes sociaux plus complexes sont également à l'oeuvre à travers les pressions du marketing (FRASER, PATON, 2003 ;GEORGES, 2001) ou, dans une perspective plus sociologique, le désir de fournir « un travail ostentatoire » (GERSHUNY, 2005 ;BOWLES, PARK, 2001 ;HAIGHT, 1997).…”