Juliet Schor's The Overworked America

As generations go by, our predecessors assume we are skipping out on important aspects of life just to get a few extra minutes on our devices. In Catherine Rampell’s “A Generation of Slackers? Not So Much”, it is said the older generations believe Generation Y is “coddled, disrespectful, narcissistic, and impatient” (Rampell 388). In all reality our generation is just doing what it has to in order to thrive in the world we live in, where technology is one of the largest parts of our everyday lives. If the older generations that criticize Generation Y had grown up in Generation Y they would realize the world we live in requires the use of technology. The advancement of society with technology has shaped Generation Y to be the people that they are, relying on technology; however, older generations believe Generation Y is lazy.

“The Importance of Work” is an essay from The Feminine Mystique, by Betty Friedan. The whole essay talks about how humans can contribute to the society with their full capacities through work and that women should hold jobs equivalent to men. Friedan insists that men and women need work that satisfies their creativity and contributes to human society. Today, doing paid work is a necessity because it helps us get through the day wether for our needs or our pleasures. The money earned from work supports the whole family. According to Mrs. Olive Schreiner, “if women did not win back their right to a full share of honored and useful work, women’s mind and muscle would weaken in a parasitic state; her offspring, male and female would weaken progressively, and civilization itself would deteriorate.” (Friedan 8) I strongly agree with this statement. I believe that the work ethic of most generations are influenced by parents. It is obvious that we look up to our parents. If the parents do not show any desire to work, their children will copy them and will not contribute to society. If a mother who is a stay-at-home mother or has a different job does not work hard or does not show any work ethic, her children will look up to her and follow her footsteps and eventually “civilization would deteriorate.” (Friedan 8)

Adjustable workstations are increasingly becoming a main benefit for organizations using them. When using computers at the workplace, employees typically sit down for longer periods without adjustable designed workstations. Such situations can lead to regular back injuries, stress injuries and other forms of injuries. All these injuries result in lost work time and reduced productivity. Using adjustable workstations reduces employee fatigue, makes them comfortable and helps them avoid standing or sitting in awkward postures. Adjustable designed workstations lowers the rate of suffering from tunnel syndrome injuries, which improves both employer and employee morale. This is characterized by improved productivity, reduction in employee absenteeism and minimal workplace complaints (Washington (State), 2009).

Although America is the greatest country in the world through the protected rights of all citizens and the gifted freedoms and liberties that come with it, we used to be really horrific.

Let us not forget, though, that the pace was not constant due to seasonal agricultural work, changing cyclical demand of goods, and unreliable transportation, communication, and supply of materials. Household clocks were not common until the 1940s. Dedication to one’s task was strong, but the work ethic of the times did not demand the “ceaseless regularity which came with the age of machines.” The work ethic of pre-industrial America was therefore more of an ethos than a specific measure of productivity.

The modern day American society hosts a broad spectrum of industries with various occupations and professions to engage today’s workforce. America, much like most first world countries is a service economy based on the exchange of knowledge and expertise rather than materials and products. People have a long history of work and work evolution that has ultimately brought America to a service economy producing both strengths and weaknesses within the society and its economy. As America has moved to a service economy, much of the manufacturing and production jobs have moved oversees to third world countries creating a reliance on other economies. This globalization of the workforce as well as unionization, and the

What is your response when someone asks you for your opinion about overworked Americans? Schabner states “Americans work more than anyone in the industrialized world.” In other words, Schabner is saying that compared to other countries America is so high up in the working world that a majority of our people are workaholics (Schabner Americans). Even though some argue Americans are lazy and depend on the government, Americans are overworked because overworking causes physical and mental damage, and the more hours a person works the less productive they are.

Back injuries cause great impact to people and their employers. As HR Magazine author Nancy Hatch Woodward points out, “back pain remains one of the most common complaints in the workplace today and it can be devastating” (57). The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in 2005 that more than 270,000 cases of back injuries and illnesses were reported in the workplace, with those affected taking an average of seven days off of work (Woodward 58).

A majority of the nurses and transportation workers had a less than 5 years of experience at work. Years of experience did not seem to have a significant association with low back pain. This differed with Rahman et al. [12] who observed that job tenure along with awkward posture can cause low back pain. The prevalence of low back pain among nurses and transportation workers was analyzed in the study. The crude odds ratio of nursing reporting back pain was (OR 1.633) and transportation workers (OR 1.156). Furthermore, the association between the low back pain in the past 3 months persisted after controlling for overexertion, high demand, low control, being harassed at work, the White race, married and having more than one minor child. As the majority of the nursing workforce comprised of females, being married and having children seemed to increase the low back pain as in addition to their jobs they have to take care of house and kids. [11]. About 13.59% nurses had more than one job which could contribute to low back pain especially if the other job is also physically demanding. A majority of nurse reported low back pain, however, they did not perceive the pain as work-related. Less than 1% discussed the low back pain with their doctors. The reason could be that with intermittent pain, nurses try to take medications regularly to alleviate the pain. [10] However, medications only provide short-term relief,

Chronic lower back pain is on the rise in not only America, but is on the rise in the world. According to a study by the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases in 2010, approximately one in ten people suffer from lower back pain, which makes lower back pain the leading cause of disability in the world (http://ard.bmj.com/content/early/2014/02/14/annrheumdis-2013-204428). This rate is on the rise and should be extremely alarming as common activities, including working a desk job, can contribute to chronic lower back pain. While there are many different methods to treat chronic lower back pain, including physical therapy, therapeutic

Since the beginning of time, people have paid close attention to the way others present themselves. Many well informed writers have begun writing persuasive and informative pieces to convince readers to stop slouching and explain the negative effects of doing so. For example, in an editorial written by Amy Cuddy “Your iPhone is Ruining Your Posture- And Your Mood” it is explained how the added pressure from looking down at a phone or other devices negatively affects someone’s mood. Jane E Brody takes a more medically backed approach in her informative editorial “Posture Affects Standing, and Not Just The Physical Kind.” Both editorials magnificently represent the numerous downfalls of poor posture yet, Brody’s approach better strikes the reader.

3. Ergonomics. This scientific discovery is valid. By applying the knowledge involving changing your workspace around to reduce awkward positions, the slumps in you shoulders and neck are reduced. Don't forget to invest in a logical work chair that is designed to support your back while keeping your feet flat onto the deck.

In “Reducing Occupational Sitting Time and Improving Worker Health: The Take-a-Stand Project, 2011” researchers Pronk NP1, Katz AS, Lowry M, Payfer JR studied employees in Minneapolis during March to May in the year 2011 to study the prolonged health risk factors of sitting for long periods of time. Researchers developed a study that was designed to limit the amount of time employees sit ultimately improving upon their health in sedentary jobs. The study occurred during a 7 week period with two groups. Group one was given a sit-stand device and group two did not receive a device. Ultimately the group whom was given the sit stand device reduced sitting time by 224% or 66 minutes a day, reduced upper back and neck pain by 54% and improved

In beginning of a her career she is a licensed physical therapist in ROHC and provided physical therapy treatment and her goal is to prevent work related musculoskeletal injuries. She is experienced over 15 years in treating orthopedic injuries caused by occupation. As a Pilates instructor she used to train rehabilitation professionals. She is expert in using neck and back stabilizing techniques on patients and ergonomic clients. She is now Director of Physical Therapy department at Nova Pain and Rehabilitation. Her quest in field of ergonomics made her to establish an ergonomic evaluating office Ergo-RX and provides custom furnishings to the clients. As an ergonomist and physical therapist, Jeannie incorporates her physical therapy treatment and prevention of injuries to the clients and patients she is serving

In Jane Brody's article she describes on how you could maintain a good posture with some tips and tricks. In the article Brody makes it seem more about how slouching affects her more than taking accounts from others such as doctors. But either way she still manages to get through to some good points. Such as how people who slouch over show a sign of weakness,"Poor posture can leave you vulnerable to street crime". It's significant because posture can determine whether you're confident or you're actually scared for some reason. Though Brody may not give more than a couple of encounters she still does a decent job on how she does her research on this topic.