globalisation and work

Question 1

What is ‘globalisation’? Give 2 examples of the impact that globalisation is having.

Answer 1

The process by which the world is becoming increasingly interconnected.

Question 2

Give 2 examples of the impact that globalisation is having.

Answer 2

1. Societies across the world can communicate any time in various ways.
2. Jobs, money, technology and raw materials can move across national borders quickly.

Question 3

What 2 types of jobs has globalisation created?

Answer 3

1. Standard
2. Non-standard

Question 4

What are the characteristics of standard jobs?

Answer 4

• Permanent
• Full time
• Well paid
• Well qualified
• Well trained

Question 5

What are the characteristcis of non-standard jobs?

Answer 5

• Temporary/seasonal/zero hour contracts
• Part time
• Paid only if needed

Question 6

Why does globalisation require more workers?

Answer 6

We are producing goods at a faster rate.

Question 7

What does Edgell say that globalisation has contributed to? Why has this happened?

Answer 7

A rise in non-standard jobs due to the growing international demands/comeptition.

Question 8

Who does Edgell say suffers on average a 15% wage penalty?

Answer 8

Those in non-standard jobs.

Question 9

Give examples of how workers suffer a wage penalty?

Answer 9

• Temp work, agency staff, zero hour contracts deny workers access to paid sick leave and paid holiday.
• These workers are also more likely to have inflexible, repetitive tasks such as night and weekend shifts.

Question 10

What is outsourcing?

Answer 10

Work that used to be performed in the UK is moved to another country where labour costs are lower, leading to unemployment or more people moving from standard jobs to non-standard jobs.

Question 11

Give an example of outsourcing.

Answer 11

Call centres

Question 12

What 3 arguments do Castell and Beck make in regards to how globalisation has affected work?

Answer 12

1. Capital is global BUT work is local/national - meaning the different parts of multinational firms are organised/coordinated through the use of information tehcnology across many countries, whilst the workforce is organised within individual countries/factories.
2. Compared to capital, labour is disorganised/weak - this works against the interests of the workforce/makes it more difficult for them to protect their pay/the terms and conditions under which they work.
3. Transitional companies have the ability to relocate their business to countries where labour is cheaper and less regulated - this weakens the power of the workforce further.

Question 13

How has globalisation impacted migration?

Answer 13

Globalisation has impacted the flow of workers to and from the UK, increasing migration.

Question 14

What are ‘transnationals’?

Answer 14

A global elite of workers with specialist skills.

Question 15

Give 3 examples of transnationals.

Answer 15

1. Web designers
2. Software programmers
3. Translators across the world

Question 16

State Gratton’s opinion on transnationals.

Answer 16

They are the result of globalisation on work - they are willing and able to relocate at any time; will migrate from the UK to wherever they are needed.

Question 17

What did Mackinnon et al (2011) discover in regards to migration?

Answer 17

• Many people in local communities were deeply affected by the globalisation of labour through migration.
• They felt threatened and disempowered by its effects on their working conditions, job security and pay.

Question 18

How is globalisation percieved?What has this led to?

Answer 18

• As an external threat to existing forms of employment and cultural identity.
• This has led to tension between particular social groups to which the media and government has used to their advantage.

Question 19

Who established the idea of core vs periphery workers? What year?

Answer 19

Atkinson - 1984

Question 20

How has the pressure of globalisation impacted the workforce?

Answer 20

It has divided the workforce into core and periphery workers.

Question 21

Give the characteristics of core workers.

Answer 21

• Full time
• Permanent
• Skilled/well trained
• Well paid
• Good promotion prospects
• Secure employment
• Seen as core to the firms continuing success
• White males tend to occup such jobs
• They form part of the primary labour market that provides relatively secure employment in full time standard jobs.

Question 22

Give the characteristics of periphery workers.

Answer 22

• Part time
• Temporary
• Lower skill level
• Lower pay
• Less promotion
• Insecure employment
• Seen as less essential to the longer term interests of the organisation.
• They form part of the secondary labour market’.
• Can be recruited quickly and often cost less than core employees.

Question 23

Which 2 groups are more likely to make up the periphery workforce? Why?

Answer 23

• Women - they are more restricted to part-time work because of their responsibilities to housework and childcare.
• Minority ethnic groups are also found more as a part of the peripheral labour force.

Question 24

What is meant by the term ‘casualisation of the workforce’?

Answer 24

• People only being employed by companies as and when required e.g part-time/temporary contracts.
• Employees are expected to work flexible hours, shift work, over time and 6 day weeks to keep up with consumer demands which gives management the changing consumer demands.