The article written by Mr. Viscusi outlines characteristics of a good employee in work places. The four main characteristics that make an employee safe in his job are being visible, ready, easy and useful at the work place.
This is an advantage to the employee because when it comes to firing employees, the first people to go are those that the employer does not know. He encourages employees to be visible by coming to work before and leaving after the boss.
Employees should be smartly dressed, participate in volunteer works, make presentation and represent their boss in functions so that they can be recognized. Employees should be easy by giving the working conditions for the boss easy listening and following instructions given to them.
Otherwise, chances of being fired are high in difficult employees. Employees should avoid unnecessary complaints like the quality of chairs they use or the system of lighting. They should be contented with what is provided to them.
Employees are allowed to take part in office but they should measure their words before letting them out. Punctuality is very important, as employees should make sure that they arrive in their offices early but leave a little bit late. This is to say that they should be beyond time expectations of the company.
A good employer should set apart some time to train other employees on the importance of taking part in extra tasks in jobs, being responsible as well as giving support to their boss. Employees should be ready for issues arising unexpectedly by updating their resumes and networks, enhancing their interview skills, adding knowledge to their skills as well as maintaining good relationship with employers.
They should also have cash with them in banks. According to Viscuss, the most important factor in work places is the relationship between the employer and the employee.
He asserts that bosses hold the fate of employees and therefore employees should maintain good relations by looking and sharing interests common to both. Socialization is very important in work places. It is difficult for the employer to fire employees who are his friends.
Following those laws prevents an individual from being fired in a case where employees have to be reduced. All employees regardless of the position they hold in the organization should follow the rules (Little, 1986). Some of the aspects expounded in the article are good in work places but others are subject to criticisms.
Employees should take part in activities in work places such as presentations, representing their boss, arriving in jobs early and leaving late, for success of the organization but the reason behind good participation should not be for the boss to recognize you.
Firing employees should not be based on the level of interaction between employer and employees. Whether friends or not, this should be based on the quality of work done by employees. A good employer should be in a position to fire his best friend if they are not performing.
Employees have rights to demand what best fits them. They should be allowed to put forward their complaints that the boss should listen to. If they do not have say, then they lack freedom. These rules should make employees feel empowered.
These rules benefit labor because employees will be working to their best to produce quality and quantity work so that the boss can recognize them. The employer should discuss the regulations with his/her employees before passing them to be laws so that employees are not pressed up.
The advice given by Mr. Viscusi contributes to alienation in the work place, a condition in which an employee feels foreign. Employees are not comfortable in work places if they do not meet some of the conditions.
For example, employees who are not friendly to the boss are always insecure when it comes to reducing the number of employees because they stand at high chances of being fired regardless of the quality of their work. In addition, employees are not free to demand for their rights because if they do so, they will be the first to go. Such conditions make employees to remain in a condition of fear.
Karl Max argues that alienation in work places is brought about by capitalism. In the theory of alienation, he asserts that workers are deprived of their rights in capitalistic societies that make employees to lose hope in their lives and destinies.
In these societies, employees are not given rights to choose what to do or not, but are expected to follow laid down instructions that may be offending (Cutler, 1977, p. 227). The working is directed by rules and activities passed by those who own the means of production.
The bosses want the employees to work as much as possible so that they can get huge profits out of their work. They also ensure that the wages they pay to the employers is too low. The main beneficiaries of the work are the owners even though employees do most of the work.
It is obvious with employers that they want employees to work to their maximum for their benefit. The major role played by employees is not realized when it comes to payments. In the same case, extra work should be done for an individual to be recognized according to the article.
Creating a friendly environment with the boss is an added advantage to the employee. Employees who are not ready to adhere to the policies outline in this article are likely to be fired (Hindess & Hirst, 1975, p. 260).
According to Little (1986), the labor theory was founded by Karl max to explain the high levels of exploitation experienced by working people in capitalistic societies. The owner of the means of production exploits poor employees by overworking them and giving them low wages compared to the work that they do.
The employers gain at the expense of the employees. The rules found in this article exploit the employees too. This is because employees have to adhere to certain conditions in order to maintain their position; otherwise, they will be fired.
Conclusion
The article encourages employees to maintain good relationships with their employees for their safety in jobs. The working conditions given in this article may not be applicable in a different economic system like communism. In this mode of production, the society is organized into units like tribes bound by the same laws and regulations.
Little or no surplus is produced and therefore there is no ruling class. Equality is enhanced in this mode of production because there are no classes. Oppression and exploitation does not occur in such societies. These rules are applicable in some modes of production like capitalism (Little, 1986, p. 80).
In conclusion, employers should consider employees before passing out laws to be followed because some may be oppressive. They should also understand that employees play a very important role that calls for increase in the wages they get. Employees should get good wages enough to cater for their basic needs. They should be allowed to exercise their rights.
References
Cutler, A. (1977). Marx’s capital and capitalism today. New York, NY: Taylor & Francis.
Hindess, P. & Hirst, P. (1975). Pre-capitalist modes of production. London: Taylor & Francis.
Little, D. (1986). The scientific Marx. New York, NY: University of Minnesota Press.