6.3.4
The Effects of Globalisation
The Effects of Globalisation on Work
The Effects of Globalisation on Work
A globalised economy, including competition for worker and customers, has had a major impact on the way people work and the opportunities available to them.
The globalised economy
The globalised economy
- Globalisation refers to the interconnected nature of the modern world.
- Globalisation reflects the uncertainties of the postmodern world some sociologists say we inhabit.
Apple
Apple
- For example, Apple products are for sale in the vast majority of countries across the globe, these are global products.
- Apple is also a Transnational Company as it has head offices across the globe, employing people across a variety of countries.
Non-standard jobs
Non-standard jobs
- Beck (2000) argues the above has serious implications because globalisation creates considerably more non-standard jobs.
- Non-standard jobs are those which are poorly paid, zero hours contracts, short-term contracts, poorly paid and insecure.
- This is due to global competition and a global marketplace requiring manufacturers to be more responsive to the needs of consumers (flexible specialisation).
'Wage penalty’
'Wage penalty’
- Edgell (2011) argues this causes a ‘wage penalty’ for the worker.
- Wage penalty refers to non-standard workers not being entitled to sick or holiday pay, being susceptible to inflexible work patterns, night and weekend shifts.
The Effects of Globalisation on Work 2
The Effects of Globalisation on Work 2
Sociologists, including Castells and Beck, suggest that globalisation has affected work in the following ways.
Increase in non-standard jobs
Increase in non-standard jobs
- There are fewer standard jobs and more non-standard jobs because global competition means companies require a more flexible approach to employment, resulting in fewer well paid, permanent jobs and more low paid, temporary jobs.
Outsourcing
Outsourcing
- Globalisation has led to an increase in outsourcing, where jobs that were once based in the UK have now moved to countries with lower labour costs.
Reduced workers rights
Reduced workers rights
- Because multinational corporations are organised and located across many countries and the workforce is organised locally, there has been a strengthening of the power in favour of owners and weakening power of workers, making it more difficult for workers to protect their rights and jobs.
Devaluation
Devaluation
- Globalisation leads to more migrant workers to and from the UK, potentially devaluing low paid jobs and making these positions hard to fill.
1Theory & Methods
1.1Sociological Theories
1.2Sociological Methods
2Education with Methods in Context
2.1Role & Function of the Education System
2.2Educational Achievement
2.3Relationships & Processes Within Schools
3Option 1: Culture & Identity
3.1Conceptions of Culture
3.2Identity & Socialisation
3.3Social Identity
3.4Production, Consumption & Globalisation
4Option 1: Families & Households
4.1Families & Households
4.2Changing Patterns
4.3The Symmetrical Family
4.4Children & Childhood
5Option 1: Health
5.1Social Constructions
5.2Social Distribution of Healthcare
5.3Provision & Access to Healthcare
5.4Mental Health
6Option 1: Work, Poverty & Welfare
6.1Poverty & Wealth
7Option 2: Beliefs in Society
7.1Ideology, Science & Religion
7.2Religious Movements
7.3Society & Religion
8Option 2: Global Development
8.1Development, Underdevelopment & Global Inequality
8.2Globalisation & Global Organisations
8.3Aid, Trade, Industrialisation, Urbanisation
9Option 2: The Media
9.1Contemporary Media
9.2Media Representations
10Crime & Deviance
10.1Crime & Society
10.2Social Distribution of Crime
Jump to other topics
1Theory & Methods
1.1Sociological Theories
1.2Sociological Methods
2Education with Methods in Context
2.1Role & Function of the Education System
2.2Educational Achievement
2.3Relationships & Processes Within Schools
3Option 1: Culture & Identity
3.1Conceptions of Culture
3.2Identity & Socialisation
3.3Social Identity
3.4Production, Consumption & Globalisation
4Option 1: Families & Households
4.1Families & Households
4.2Changing Patterns
4.3The Symmetrical Family
4.4Children & Childhood
5Option 1: Health
5.1Social Constructions
5.2Social Distribution of Healthcare
5.3Provision & Access to Healthcare
5.4Mental Health
6Option 1: Work, Poverty & Welfare
6.1Poverty & Wealth
7Option 2: Beliefs in Society
7.1Ideology, Science & Religion
7.2Religious Movements
7.3Society & Religion
8Option 2: Global Development
8.1Development, Underdevelopment & Global Inequality
8.2Globalisation & Global Organisations
8.3Aid, Trade, Industrialisation, Urbanisation
9Option 2: The Media
9.1Contemporary Media
9.2Media Representations
10Crime & Deviance
10.1Crime & Society
10.2Social Distribution of Crime
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