Work

Work is
● Physical or mental effort or activity directed towards the
production or accomplishment of something.
● Definition varies:

Types of work

Paid Unpaid Voluntary

● Financial reward ● No financial reward ● Working with charities or
● Person can be self- ● Can feel undervalued or bored communities
employed or work for an due to lack of financial reward & ● No financial reward.
employer its monotony ● Participate to make a difference.
● Hours can be PT or full ● Unpaid workers don’t contribute ● Increases self-esteem
time PRSI towards contributory
● Range of skills pension, making them dependent
qualifications vary from on the state pension when they
job to job retire.
● Work is carried out in a
designated area

Reasons why
people work
 What influences our attitudes to work?
Factor Explained
Job satisfaction Def: degree of enjoyment a person gets from their chosen work.
● High satisfaction = better worker

Low job satisfaction Intrinsic:

● ● Satisfaction experienced from completing a job, rather than the
● financial gain provided.
●
● ● Intrinsic motivation promotes positive feelings on the job &
● higher self-esteem.
● Associated with vocations:

Extrinsic:
● Satisfaction experienced from the benefits associated with the
job, rather than the job itself
● Examples:
● People may stay in monotonous jobs as they are happy with the
benefits

Socio economic ● Children from higher socio-economic background are more likely
background to aspire to higher paid careers- greater access to supports &
education supports.

● Children from lower socio-economic background are less likely to

have access to supports & education opportunities needed for
higher paid careers- may have lower aspirations
Social Contact ● Many work for social contact as they get to associate with others
who’ve similar interests.
● Interactions give people a feeling of belonging & enhance self-
esteem
● Loss of social contact due to redundancy or retirement can lead
to feelings of loneliness & isolation
Work Ethic ● Concerns a Peron’s attitudes, feelings & beliefs about work.
● Workers exhibiting a good work ethic are more likely to get a
job, job promotion or to be more responsible, as they show
qualities like being

● Work ethic develops at home

Working Conditions ● Safe, clean, friendly workplace creates happy employees

● Hostile env = less motivated
Personal Identity ● Gives personal identity & status
● Helps people feel valued & enhances self-esteem.
● More positive attitude to work
 Variations in working conditions
Variation Detail
Working Hours ● Work shorter weeks
● Improved legislation-
● Flexible working hours outside the 9-5 day
● Many can work from home

Employee ● Participation in decision making varies

Participation ● Participation- empowers, values employees by allowing
input. Increased worker confidence, productivity, loyalty &
creative thinking.
● Effectiveness of employee participation is still not valued
in many environments- managers feel they know best.

Manual Work ● Labour intensity varies depending on occupation i.e.

● More labour intensive jobs have become safer & less

physically strenuous.

Stress Levels ● Varies with professions

● Ex: well paid jobs carry a lot of responsibility & require long
working hours i.e. medicine, management.
● Long hours impact negatively on
-
-
-
-
Entitlements ● To fair treatment & not to be exploited by employers.
● Legislation governs this & ensures people receive minimum
wage, annual leave, maternity leave & sick p0ay
● Responsibility =
 Changes in patterns of work & work availability

Decline in primary & secondary industries & increase in tertiary

industries

Primary Industry Secondary Industry Tertiary industry

Extraction & collection of Manufacturing raw Supplying services
natural resources materials from primary
sector into finished
products
● Food production ●
● ● Building ●
● ●
construction ●
●
● Automobile
construction
Reasons for decline Reasons for decline Reasons for increase
Technology Technology ● Expansion & growth of the world
- economy = more jobs in
telecommunication, education &
transport
Global competition ● Grants from Irish Gov to multi-
national companies
● More disposable income
● Increased tourism in Ireland

Provides,
cleaner, safer
& healthier
Disadv: Production is
work env more accurate
reduces job
i.e. stitching on
satisfaction
jeans

Disadv: Increased
Increases productivity
unemployment Increased
industrial
automation

Disadv: less Reduces

social employee
interaction in working hours
workplace

Reduces Increases job

labour costs opportunities
for 3rd level
educated
 Increased participation of women in the workforce

Reasons
Social ● Marriage ban, 1933: female civil servants had to resign from their
Acceptance jobs when they married
● Lifting the ban & the gradual introduction of anti-discrimination &
equality legislation has advanced women’s rights in the workplace.
Economic ● With the increasing cost of living, greater need for women to work.
necessity ● High levels of male unemployment.
● More stay at home dad’s
Higher Education ● Ever increasing no. of women advancing to 3rd level education.
Attainment ● Improved their value on the job market & boasted job prospects
● Role shift
Childcare ● Workplace crèches
supports ● Early Childhood Care & Education Scheme

Part-time or job ● Helps balance work & family responsibilities

sharing options ● Allows women to stay in workforce after child’s arrival.
● Impacts pension entitlements
 Improved working conditions
Safety, Healthy & Welfare at National Minimum Employment Equality Act
Work Act, 2005 Wage Act 2000 1998-2015
● Sets out the rights & - Act deals with promoting
responsibilities of employers & equality & banning
employees to maintain health & discrimination with
safety in the workplace employment.

Employers must: - Grounds for discrimination

● Provide instruction & training to that are banned
employees on health & safety
● Provide protective clothing & - Covers equal pay, access to
equipment to employees employment. Promotion &
dismissal.
Under the act employees must:
- not engage in improper behaviour
- Not be under the influence of
drink & drugs in the workplace

- Health & Safety Authority

monitors compliance with this
legislation

Flexi-time

Career Job-sharing
Break

Increased
flexibility in
the
workplace

Parental Part Time

Leave
 Protection on Young Persons Employment Act 1996

- Protects the health of young workers & ensures that work carried
out when attending school that doesn’t impact their educational
progress.
- Sets minimum age limits for employment, rest interval & maximum
working hours.

Children 14-15 years Young people 16-17 yrs

Working
Hours

Rest
Intervals

Times of
work

Wage
Payment
 Role of unpaid and voluntary work in the community
Unpaid Work Voluntary
● Services to the disadvantaged &
underprivileged i.e.
● Complements the work of state
bodies but also provides a more
personal service i.e.
● Run services that should be
provided by state services
● Awareness of social problems
● Offers advice to gov in assisting the
development of effective gov
policies & leg.

Benefits of voluntary work for:

The Volunteer The Community

● Improves mood & self-esteem ● Provides a service quickly to those in
need, reducing disadvantage
● Develops transferable skills that are
beneficial for gaining employment ● Improves community

● Builds friendship ● Creates a sense of community spirit

● Develops empathy ● Creates friendships & relationships