social class inequalities in work and mployment

Question 1

what are social class inequalities in work and employment?

Answer 1

• in most work places there is a hierarchy of occupations with higher status jobs not only enjoying more pay but also a number of other advantages
• such inequalities are seen by many sociologists as related to the position of individuals in the labour market

Question 2

what do Weberian sociologists say about inequalities in work and employment?

Answer 2

• Weberian sociologists more privileged workers tend to be in more skilled and high status occupations that can command higher levels of pay and other rewards
• workers who are less skilled tend to have significantly less bargaining power, or what Weber referred to as a poor market situation

Question 3

what do Marxists say about inequalities in work and employment?

Answer 3

• Marxists by contrast argue that inequalities of income and other rewards derive from the need for capitalist employers to keep wages down and profits up
• Marxists also suggests that key workers such as managers who run business enterprises in behalf of their owners are likely to be much more highly rewarded because of the way that they act as the agents of the ruling class ensuring the profitability of businesses for their shareholders

Question 4

what are the inequalities in the types of rewards offered by workplaces?

Answer 4

• financial rewards
• status
• power and control
• opportunities for advancement
• job satisfaction
• job security

Question 5

what are inequalities in financial rewards at work?

Answer 5

-compared to senior staff more routine workers not only earn less pay but are less likely to enjoy other perks such as occupational pensions or longer paid holidays

Question 6

what are inequalities in status at work?

Answer 6

• in most work organisations differences of status reflect differences of income
• for example there may be different uniforms or work dress, canteens and rest facilities for different grades of workers

Question 7

what are inequalities in power and control at work?

Answer 7

• more senior staff have more autonomy and control in their work
• for example they may be able to set their own working hours and make decisions about how they do their jobs
• more routines or instructions from above about how they perform their jobs

Question 8

what are the inequalities in opportunities and advancement at work?

Answer 8

• in professional and managerial jobs there is often a career ladder so employees tend to receive training and development and thus move up to positions of higher pay and responsibility over the course of their working lives
• in manual and routine jobs, workers often stay at the same level throughout their career

Question 9

what are inequalities in job satisfaction at work?

Answer 9

• more skilled workers may achieve higher levels of job satisfaction because they exercise a wider range of skills and can make decisions in their jobs
• routine jobs such as working on an assembly line in a factory or on a supermarket checkout are likely to be more repetitive and lack scope to make decisions or be creative about how the job is done

Question 10

what are the inequalities in job security?

Answer 10

-manual workers and other routine workers are much more likely to face job losses and unemployment than more skilled workers