For Work / Against Work
Debates on the centrality of work

"Recognitive Arguments for Workplace Democracy"

by Hirvonen, O; Breen, K (2020)

Abstract

Recent years have seen the Hegelian idea of recognition applied to the sphere of work, with the aim of identifying social pathologies, lack of recognition, and the worsening of work life in neoliberal societies.1 However, while recognition theorists have commendably managed to point out the pathologies marring work, explicit moves to argue for a democratization of work have been scarce. In his recent contribution, Timo Jütten (2017, p. 265) states that “the requirement of equal respect” establishes “limits to the power that others can exercise over us if we are to be recognized as persons.” Although it is the case that “work may become undignified when the authority that others yield over us is arbitrary or excessive,” according to Jütten it is still “implausible that significant decision-making power at work is required for a dignified life” (Jütten, 2017, p. 265). In this paper we want to claim otherwise.

Keywords

Hegel, Recognition, Workplae Democracy, Social Pathologies, Democratization, Recognition Theory

Themes

Democracy and Work

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