Work in America - An Encyclopedia of History, Policy, and Society [2 volumes] (Hardcover)

Work. It's the key to our daily survival and the source of humankind's greatest achievements, from poetry to pyramids to political systems. When we drastically change the way we work -- as we did during the Industrial Revolution and as we're doing again in the information age -- we set in motion forces that restructure societies around the globe, alter basic human relationships, and even transform our physical environment. This comprehensive two-volume reference book is the first to analyze the central role of work and the workforce in American life from the Industrial Revolution through today's information economy. Drawing on a variety of disciplines -- economics, public policy, law, human and civil rights, cultural studies, and organizational psychology -- its 265 entries examine key events, ideas, institutions, and individuals in labor history. They also tackle tough contemporary questions that reflect the conflicts inherent in capitalism. What is the impact of work on families and communities? On minority and immigrant populations? How shall we respond to changing work roles and the growing influence of the transnational corporation? Work in America describes and evaluates attempts to address social and class divisions -- affirmative action, occupational health and safety, corporate management science, and trade unionism and organized labor -- and offers the kind of comprehensive understanding needed to discover workable solutions.