08/01/2024

Rethinking Work: Essays on Building a Better Workplace

Book Review by V. Casey Dozier and Sarah Pearson

Blustein, D. L., & Flores, L.Y. (Eds.). (2023). Rethinking work: Essays on building a better workplace. Routledge. (274 pages)

Work is perhaps one of the most misunderstood career development terms (Reardon et al., 2022). It is a perplexing concept, perhaps because so many individuals have their own definition of what work means to them and how to build a life around work or integrate work into their life. It also heavily connects to social justice issues of our time.

David L. Blustein and Lisa Y. Flores explore the complexity of work in their book, Rethinking Work: Essays on Building a Better Workplace. In this collection of 45 essays from 58 unique contributors, essayists were asked to “deeply consider how societies may optimally organize and support humane conditions and structures for all of those who work, whether by necessity or desire” (Blustein & Flores, 2023, p. 2). The editors wanted writers to reimagine the workplace, not from the perspective of efficiency and profit, but in light of the human experience of work.

Each essay challenges existing workplace structures and policies and considers how work can be fulfilling, safe, and equitable while meeting the basic needs of the worker. The contributors include scholars, activists, psychologists, workforce development professionals, and corporate leaders. As such, they “rethink” the notion of work from the viewpoint of their own experiences, perspectives, research, and observations within a range of topics. With so many different contributors, each essay is unique, and yet the compilation still reads artfully as a whole unit.

Rethinking Work begins by outlining five specific goals and ways in which the reader may find it useful to engage with the essays written:

1. explore and identify values to guide an engaged rethinking of work
2. support and inform reforms in policies and norms about work
3. inform individual and organizational interventions to enhance the quality of work
4. identify and discuss social and racial justice challenges within the workplace
5. inspire further reflections and research about work.

The authors explain that the purpose of this book is to inspire its readers to reimagine work in a way that nourishes people and communities (Blustein & Flores, 2023). Featured prominently in many of the essays is the impact of external events on work satisfaction, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, new technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), and increased life expectancy. Most essayists agree that COVID-19 exacerbated many of the preexisting workplace issues. This book serves as a means to keep the reader in the forefront. There are no quick next steps, interventions, or how-to steps in the essays. However, subsections and key phrases are expertly bolded and/or italicized throughout the essays to capture the reader’s attention. 

A notable strength of this book lies in its ability to serve as a transformational conversation starter that can inform work-based social change and reform efforts. The essays, each typically three or four pages in length, serve as excellent starting points for discussions and explorations. The editors have organized the essays around the following themes:

1. The function of work in people’s lives
2. The changing nature of work
3. Inequality and work
4. Precarious work, unemployment and underemployment
5. Race, culture, and work
6. Practice, systematic and policy perspectives on work
7. Technology and work.

The essayists explore various aspects of the topic while staying within the goals outlined by Blustein and Flores. For example, Cha-Jua & Neville (2023), on the theme "Race, Culture, and Work," proposed reimagining the cessation of work as a capitalistic institution and advocate for employment as a fundamental human right. Their recommendations include the establishment of institutions that promote belonging and respect, racial and ethnic representation at all levels, inclusivity, enhanced work-life balance, and a greater emphasis on emotional and physical health and well-being. Notably, they advocate for a reduction in working hours to six-hour days and thirty-hour weeks (Cha-Jua & Neville, 2023). In the concluding remarks, the authors summarize seven key take-aways found in the essays and offer recommendations on how these messages can help transform the world of work.

Despite the challenging subject matter, the book's organization contributes to its accessibility and utility. The concise essays provide a diverse range of discussion points within specific topic areas, offering readers insights into various facets of the subject matter. For instance, the essays under the topic of Technology and Work range from a discussion on the ways AI will change the workforce to a discussion on the use of technology for the surveillance and monitoring of workers. The essays stimulate curiosity, encouraging readers to delve deeper into unexplored perspectives and considerations. Likewise, the diverse viewpoints and topics present myriad possibilities for envisioning the workforce not as it is, but as it could be - offering readers the opportunity to question established norms and explore new perspectives centered on the human experience of work and the role it plays in their lives.

Both Blustein and Flores are prominent figures in the field of psychology. While Blustein focuses on the broader implications of work in society and the development of the psychology of working theory, Flores centers her research on the career development of Latinx individuals and women, advocating for greater inclusivity and representation in career counseling and development. Her work has provided valuable insights into the intersection of cultural, gender, and socio-economic factors in career development, and has contributed to the development of more inclusive and equitable career counseling practices. Blustein is the author of several influential works, including: The Psychology of Working: A New Perspective for Career Development, Counseling, and Public Policy and The Importance of Work in an Age of Uncertainty. Their work collectively advances the understanding of how diverse factors influence career development and work-related well-being. The collection includes essays from a variety of perspectives including scholars, thought-leaders, activists, psychologists, and social scientists, and the book's utility extends across a spectrum of stakeholders. For example, policymakers, leaders, and advocates will find inspiration and motivation to effect workplace improvements in the essays on Practice, Systematic, and Policy Perspectives on Work. The ideas presented in this publication should challenge readers to explore and understand not only the obstacles and inequalities in the workforce, but also the alternative perspectives. 

Blustein and Flores have presented an invitation to continue to discuss, explore, demand, persevere, question, and move toward a more humane workplace.

References

Blustein, D. L., & Flores, L.Y. (Eds.). (2023). Rethinking work: Essays on building a better workplace. Routledge.

Cha-Jua, S. K., & Neville, H. A. (2023). The abolition of capitalist work and reimagining labor. In D. Bluestein & L. Flores (Eds.), Rethinking work: Essays on building a better workplace (pp. 131-137). Routledge.

Reardon, R. C., Lenz, J. G., Sampson, J. P., Jr., & Peterson, G. W. (2022). Career development & planning: A comprehensive approach (7th ed). Kendall Hunt. https://he.kendallhunt.com/product/career-development-and-planning-comprehensive-approach

Dr. V. Casey Dozier serves as the Program Director for Career Advising, Counseling, and Instruction at the Florida State University Career Center, alongside her role as an Associate Teaching Professor at the university. Dr. Dozier is also a Co-Director for the Center for the Study of Technology in Counseling and Career Development, where she fosters the integration of research, theory, and practice. Her extensive qualifications include being a Nationally Certified Counselor and Licensed Psychologist in Florida. She actively contributes to the field by serving on the NCDA Diversity Initiatives and Cultural Inclusion Committee where she Co-Chairs the Online Resources Subcommittee, instrumental in revamping the social justice section of the NCDA website. With numerous publications including referred journal articles, book chapters, and national presentations, Dr. Dozier’s expertise extends to clinical interventions, particularly in personal and career counseling for college students of all ages. Her professional passions are supervision and training, advocating for underserved populations, and seamlessly integrating theory, research, and evidence-based practice. She can be reached at casey.dozier@fsu.edu

Sarah Pearson is an Associate University librarian with almost 10 years of experience in Career Services. She is a member of the Career Advising, Counseling and Instruction team at Florida State University Career Center where she serves as the librarian and an instructor and provides pre-law and career advising services to FSU students.  She holds a master’s degree in Library Science and Information. which she received at FSU.  Ms. Pearson has been the co-chair to the National Career Development Association, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Online Resource sub-committee since Fall 2021 and is also an active member of the Special Library Association. Sarah can be reached at sarah.pearson@fsu.edu or on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/sarahypearson/