Worked Over: How Round-the-Clock Work Is Killing the American Dream

Middlebury College sociologist McCallum (Global Unions, Local Power) delivers an informative examination of the strains placed on American workers by “overwork, unstable schedules, and a lack of adequate hours.” Linking decreased unionization to rising income inequality and work hour instability, McCallum notes that in the past 40 years, “CEO pay soared by an inconceivable 1,070 percent, and productivity increased by 70 percent, but hourly wages of average workers limped forward just 12 percent.” The “gamification” of work has exacerbated the situation, according to McCallum, who notes that Target (“a.k.a. Walmart for liberals”) uses color-coded screens to display the productivity rates of checkout clerks in real time. He also contends that a cultural shift toward expecting one’s job to be meaningful and fulfilling has made it harder for workers of all stripes to maintain a healthy work-life balance. His suggestions for reform include increased family and medical leave, across-the-board working hour reductions, and Medicare for All. Interweaving anecdotes from the history of American labor with profiles of contemporary workers, union organizers, and social service administrators, McCallum lucidly explains how the current system came to be and offers hope that the resurgence of socialist principles can lead to improved working conditions. The result is a cogent, persuasive, and witty call for change. (Sept.)