Introduction
Work is a complex social phenomenon that has numerous definitions. No matter, in what sense people use this term, they work throughout their lives, spending long hours at their jobs. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the role of work in the life of people and the importance of professional identity.
Main body
In simple terms, work can be described as an activity aimed at the production of goods or services. I think it is crucial to understand that even significant work can be unpaid. Housekeeping and volunteering are often underrated because they do not have a fixed price to them. The term “women’s labor” is often used to describe non-paid work, thus undermining the role of women in society.
The image of work changed throughout the centuries. From God’s curse in the ancient world labor evolved into a gift from God in the 16th century. Work was perceived as a moral obligation as well as the essence of humanity in the Renaissance. Karl Marx evaluated people by the results of their labor.
Occupation broadly defines the type of work a person does, whereas a profession is characterized by specific knowledge and skills needed for a certain job. Professionals differ from other workers due to the higher requirements for their education. They can receive informational and legal support from particular associations. Professionals are more devoted to the work they do than unqualified workers are. In my opinion, that is why the development of professional identity is very important among graduates when they begin to work. Successful integration of work into everyday routine enhances the person’s productivity and increases income.
Working conditions have improved greatly in comparison with the older times. Current labor laws are aimed to create comfortable working conditions with a high level of security. However, along with the improvements, there are many new issues in the labor market.
In the ever-changing modern world, short-time projects are becoming the leading type of employment. Consequently, people do not receive a possibility for constant development of their professional skills. Nowadays, even qualified workers are disposable. Employees feel insecure in their places what inevitably leads to a lesser quality of their work.
In her film Poor No More, Mary Walsh investigates the employment situation in Canada and Sweden. Like everywhere else in the world, there are many jobless, poor people, and young professionals with no prospects. Together with two Canadian workers, Mary Walsh travels to Ireland and Sweden to find the possible solution to the situation. The film points out the effectiveness of wisely employed tax programs. I will agree with the author of the film that partnership between unions and employees can also provide secure jobs and lead to positive changes in the labor market.
Illegal immigration greatly influences the employment situation in many countries. In one South Park episode called Goobacks, the authors give a satire of the debate concerning this phenomenon. I think the protest against immigration in the form of an orgy is a good example of inappropriate measures taken by many countries.
Conclusion
To sum up, I should say that work is a very complex phenomenon that penetrates every aspect of our lives. Most of our time we spend at work. Logically, the image of the work has changed throughout the ages to become an integral part of our everyday routine. The modern world presents many possibilities for a professional occupation, but short-time projects often leave workers insecure. Therefore, the professional identity is still important, but the qualified labor is degraded as well as the women’s work. The labor market can be greatly influenced by illegal immigration and a recession in the economy. I think we are still on the way to building strong relations between work, personal life, and the economy.