What Workers Want, Updated Edition (Copublished With Russell Sage Foundation) [Paperback]

Richard B. Freeman (Author), Joel Rogers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 10, 2006 | ISBN-10: 080147325X | ISBN-13: 978-0801473258 | Edition: Updated

How would a typical American workplace be structured if the employees could design it? According to Richard B. Freeman and Joel Rogers, it would be an organization run jointly by employees and their supervisors, one where disputes between labor and management would be resolved through independent arbitration. Their groundbreaking book--based on the most extensive workplace survey of the last twenty years--provides a comprehensive account of employees’ attitudes about participation, representation, and regulation on the job. More than anything, the authors find, workers want their voices to be heard. They desire a greater role in the workplace (but doubt management’s willingness to share power), and have strong ideas about how their involvement could improve not just their lot but also their companies’ fortunes. Many nonunion workers favor the formation of unions, and virtually all union workers strongly support their union. Most employees support the creation of labor-management committees--to which workers would elect their representatives--to run the organization and settle conflicts. And, contrary to commonly held assumptions, workers (including those in unions and those wishing to be) do not like dissension with their supervisors; they overwhelmingly prefer cooperative relations. The authors also report on the views of the supervisors, who confirm their wish to retain exclusive authority to make decisions, but demonstrate a willingness to listen more actively to labor’s concerns by giving employees a more substantial voice on advisory committees. Freeman and Rogers present their findings within a broader picture of the evolving structure of labor and management in the United States. Their detailed description of their survey--how it was constructed and conducted--provides a model for workplace research in our time. And the results allow the voices of employees to be heard on matters profoundly affecting their jobs, their lives, and, ultimately, the state of the American economy.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"This book provides a wealth of new data and new ideas concerning worker attitudes towards unions and management. It is a sure bet to be the focus of much future debate in both academic and public policy circles."--Harry Katz, Cornell University

"This challenging volume reports on answers to fundamental questions--what do workers want and what do they think; what forms of participation and representation do they seek? These responses from individual workers need to be read and reflected upon by every supervisor or manager, labor union representative, and government officer concerned with the American workplace. The country's future depends on it."--John T. Dunlop, Former Secretary of Labor

"Past efforts to reform labor law failed in part because the voice of the workforce was missing. By summarizing what workers have to say, What Workers Want opens a new era of debate with a fresh approach. Let's hope policymakers are listening."--Thomas A. Kochan, Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"One of the most frequently asked questions in economic life is: ‘How do you feel about your job?’ or ‘How do workers feel about their work?’ Either question is most often answered by casual, second-hand, or purely anecdotal information. But not here. Using meticulously planned research, the authors tell in careful detail how workers really feel and what they want. And all the writing is in clear, non-technical English, with an occasional amused comment and the relevant quantitative support. This is a strong recommendation; I’ve never thought one better justified." --John Kenneth Galbraith, Harvard University

About the Author

RICHARD B. FREEMAN is the Herbert Ascherman Chairof Economics at Harvard University and Co-Director of hte Labor and Work Life forum at the Harvard Law School. He is also Director of the Labor Studies Program at the National Bureau of Economic Research, Senior Research Fellow in Labour Markets at the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School fo Economics and Visiting Professor at the London School of Economics. JOEL ROGERS is Professor of Law, Political Science, and Sociology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and Director of the Center on Wisconsin Strategy. He is coauthor of The Forgotten Majority: Why the White Working Class Still Matters.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: ILR Press; Updated edition (August 10, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080147325X
• ISBN-13: 978-0801473258
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #835,060 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What Workers Want, March 13, 2000

By 

Robert Nishi "Open Book" (Northern Cal, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What Workers Want (Ilr Press Books) (Paperback)

Finally a book that ask's workers what they want, rather than some pontification of a organizational theory or anecdotal information by a Ivory Tower Guru. The authors used a multi-part survey that ask workers about what they wanted - participation in the organizations is what the workers seeked. Workers voiced their opinion in that they believe that greater participation in their jobs and organizations would both benefit the organization and the employee. The authors, Richard Freeman, Ascherman Professor of Economics at Harvard and Joel Rogers MacArthur Professor of Law, Political Science, and Sociology at the Univesity of Wisconsin believe representation and participation of the workers at their jobs would benefit both the employee and employer, who would gain a more engaged and committed workforce. A interesting section in the book covers, "Why Care about What Workers Want? The authors answer these questions with some thoughtful discussion. Compelling and honest! I thoroughly recommend it to Executives, Administrators, Managers and Human Resources professionals! I