LHR 100
PROFESSOR
ELAINE FARNDALE
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LHR 100
The Role and Importance
of
Work in Life
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Review--Tuesday
97,200
hours of work
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Today
Challenges we face at work
in the US.
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Learning Objectives
• Understand what work
means in the USA
• Describe what makes work
meaningful
• Identify the three core
ways of viewing work
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Developed Nations
--Hours of Work—2020-Per Week
Mexico
South Africa
Iceland
US
Canada
France
Australia
48.5 hrs.
45.0 hrs.
43.0 hrs.
41.5 hrs.
35.8 hrs.
35.0 hrs.
29.0 hrs.
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PAID VACATION
Required by Law
BY FEDERAL LAW, MOTHERS GET 12
WEEKS OF UNPAID LEAVE UPON THE
BIRTH OF A CHILD.
EMPLOYERS CAN GIVE MORE, AND CAN
GIVE PAID LEAVE, BUT MOST DO NOT.
FATHERS CAN ALSO TAKE 12 WEEKS OF
UNPAID LEAVE.
The only countries in the world
that do not mandate some type
of paid maternity leave:
Papua New Guinea
Swaziland
Liberia
Lesotho
United States
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PAID MATERNITY LEAVE
PAID MATERNITY LEAVE
PAID MATERNITY LEAVE
Only
45%
of Americans are
satisfied or extremely satisfied
with their jobs
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In 2021
37%
of Americans
are either thinking about
quitting or are preparing to quit
their jobs
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Employees Generally like
Working at Home
24% increase in job satisfaction
among parents working at home
13% increase in job satisfaction
among workers without children
working at home
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Returning to the Office After Covid:
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What are the things that
people get out of a job?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Money
Recognition/Respect
Satisfaction
Sense of Purpose
Self-fulfillment
Identity
Power
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READING for TODAY:
“Rethinking Work.”
“Challenges notion that hating our
job is to be expected and accepted.”
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READING for TODAY:
“Rethinking Work.”
We want work that:




is challenging and engaging
gives us some voice and control
provides opportunities to learn
is meaningful — that makes a difference
to other people and thus ennobles us in
at least some small way.
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READING for TODAY:
“Rethinking Work.”
Might be more opportunities for
this in “professional” work, but the
reading suggests it can be found in
any work.
-Hospital Custodians
--Donation Solicitors
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THINK OF JOBS THAT PRIMARILY FIT
EACH OF THESE VIEWS AND OF
SOMEONE YOU KNOW WHO FITS INTO
EACH CATEGORY.
Three ways of viewing WORK:
 Work as a job (focus on survival;
money, benefits, and pay)
 Work as a career (focus on success,
esteem, recognition, and power)
 Work as a calling (focus on meaning,
mission, and purpose)
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Three ways of viewing WORK:
Work as:
A JOB
-Factory
Worker
-Call Center
Worker
A CAREER
--Management
Executive
--Politician
A CALLING
--Minister
--Nurse
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WORK
AS A
JOB.
WORK
AS A
CAREER.
Fast Food
Worker
WORK AS CALLING.
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WORK
AS A
JOB.
WORK
AS A
CAREER.
Accountant
WORK AS CALLING.
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WORK
AS A
JOB.
Nurse
WORK
AS A
CAREER.
WORK AS CALLING.
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WORK
AS A JOB
WORK
AS A
CAREER.
WORK AS CALLING.
Medical
Relief
Worker in
Afghanistan
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Deriving Meaning from Work
Employees who derive meaning from their work are more
than three times as likely to stay with their organizations–the
highest single impact of any other survey variable they tested.
And the employees who have meaning don’t just stick around
longer. They also report higher job satisfaction and are more
engaged at work.
Meaningfulness comes from being a “giver,” suspending what
one wants and desires. Involves some degree of self-sacrifice.
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WORK AS A JOB.
WORK AS A
CAREER.
WORK AS
CALLING.
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Next week
• Tuesday:
• Motivation in the Workplace
• Thursday:
• Employment Law Basics: What
Are Your Rights at Work?
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