Q1. Describe how typical the attitudes the Sheehy reports appear to be in the work environments you have experienced. I first started to work for Wal-mart in the 1970s and found some of the same work ethics as Sheehy saw in the fast food industry. Because of the Managers did not let the workers take breaks or stay on the cash register because their line was still long, the employees would just put merchandise in their friends bags without charging them for the merchandise. Managers were disrespectful to the employees and the employees were disrespectful to the managers. Wal-marts policy gave a bonus to the employees if they had an excellent sells year. However, because of the revenue loss because of theft there was no bonus given to the employees only to managers. The employees thought it unfair that the managers got the bonus and not the workers. As Sheehy stated the workers began to lax on their duties and hide from managers so they would not have to do any additional work. They felt that they were not getting paid for the labor that they were hired for and for the belittlement that they had to take from the customers. Before Wal-mart put in place the work ethics they wanted their employees to exhibit, the employees showed indifference to the quality of service to the customers. Now Wal-mart has training for their employees, both managers and the employees on the floor and cashiers have improved. Employee theft has decline and customer service quality and how to handle the difficult customers. Managers are taught how to handle their employees with respect and dignity.
Q2. Explain the implications of the work ethic Sheehy describes for the future of American business. The two implications that the future of American business has to look forward to is the non-content of the workers. In the workforce of today, many workers feel alienated and the employers do not care about their employees. The more work you do the less you are appreciated. The fast food establishment employees are usually young people or young single mothers that have no other choice except to work in this type of environment. The utilitarian point of view states that workers need to be happy in what they do in order for them to give you the complete loyalty the employers are expecting from the workers. The young people are placed in this type of job because they do not process the skills it takes to work at a better paying and rewarding job. They do not believe in hard work and long hours because of the minimal wage they are receiving. The single mothers feel they are in a no advancement job and that there is no upward mobility in these types of jobs.
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