10/9/08
After reading Braverman’s and Greenbaum’s accounts of the nature of work and the influence of technology, I began to ponder my first job: a veterinary assistant. I started working for a new clinic within months of it opening when I was 15. I worked 40+ hours a week (probably illegal). The next summer I go back to work again.
Same place, same job but totally new experience. Before I had much more freedom. As one of 2 veterinary assistants and the only other employee besides the vet a vet tech, I was constantly being critique and monitored in my work personally by the vet or her husband. The next summer instead of personal monitoring there were check off sheets that each person had to initial when a task was completed Looking back, it was there way of exerting control over workers. Also, when I first started working there was a time log sheet so you wrote in your hours. The next summer, there was a computer program where you entered a special code that was used to keep track of the your hours.
While I was subject to no direct monitoring often like the workers at the McDonalds call center, I realize now I saw first hand management working out ways to control workers. The next summer it was actually much easier to get by with slacking off because now there were 5 other veterinary assistants/receptionists/kennel workers. The first summer I worked I got to participate in a larger variety of activities as I was at times the only other person besides the vet at the clinic. With the influx of more workers, my job responsibilities shrank and I no longer did things like schedule patients and write up charts.While work was still monitored, no longer was it on an individual basis except for the tasks that had to be initialed and even then that paper was often conveniently thrown away before management saw it when all the tasks were completed.
I also saw the influence of technology and its capabilities to revolutionize a workplace. When I first started, there were no online records and the only thing the computer was used for was scheduling. Prescriptions were typed up on paper and taped to vials. Now there is a computer in every exam room making the whole business paperless. Anything entered into the computer is recorded with the initials of who entered it. This is an attempt to monitor people but even then there are so many different activities going on, it is difficult. Labels are printed out in accordance to the amount charged on the invoice.
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Related to the job experience by Sasha, it is unfair for the employer to monitor and place some burdens to the worker. However, there are some solutions to make change of employee monitoring. According to the Sara Baase, there are some guidelines for monitoring such that employee should be involved in setting up procedure for monitoring. I really agree with this statement because there should have the "worker-self management" to give some opportunity for the worker to protect their rights and freedom in the workplace. The employment structure should be fair to all the workers. Furthermore, problems uncovered by monitoring should lead to more training. Related to Sara Baase, she suggested there should no disciplinary action unless the employee fails to improve. I think this is very good suggestion because employee will make mistake in their work. The employer should give some opportunity for worker to improve their work's capabilities. Then, if no improvement shows by the workers, the disciplinary action must be taken to avoid workers from being "leisure time". The monitoring and evaluation procedure should be explained fully to employees so that they really understand what they should do and what the employer monitors to them. Finally, the productivity of company and management can be increase if there are really well connection between employer and workers.
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