The Sociology of Work
Continuity and Change in Paid and Unpaid Work
- Stephen Edgell - University of Salford, UK
- Edward Granter - University of Birmingham, UK
‘Definitive, critical and engaging, this is a superb introduction to the sociology of work.’ Leo McCann, Professor of Management, University of York
Now in a fully updated third edition, The Sociology of Work draws on the work of classic and contemporary theorists, to provide readers with a thorough exploration of all aspects of work and employment, including paid and unpaid work, standard and non-standard employment, and unemployment.
The new edition includes:
- Two new chapters on “Work, Skill and the Labour Process” and “Managing Culture at Work”.
- Expanded coverage of the rise and decline of trade unions; emotional labour, misbehaviour, and resistance at work.
- Further discussion of the gig economy and precarious work; automation and the end of work; globalization and human rights.
For Sociology and Business students, taking modules in work, employment and society.
Definitive, critical and engaging, this is a superb introduction to the sociology of work. Edgell and Granter's expert narrative takes us from the cotton mills to the gig economy, and from unpaid domestic chores to visions of a post-work future. Indispensable.
A welcome new edition of Sociology of Work that delivers on the promise to chronicle and to assess continuity and changes in paid and unpaid work over the longue durée. Key themes and theories drive chapters on alienation, the labor process, skill, organizational culture, Fordism, destandarization, and domestic work, culminating in the perfect bookend on work transformations across multiple historical globalizations spanning the global North and South.
The Sociology of Work is an introductory text that is more engaging and coherent than a traditional textbook. It provides an accessible entry point into the field, covering a vast literature and counterposing competing theories and perspectives, but within a systematic analytical framework and narrative. It appreciates the variable social construction of work and employment across history, understands capitalism as a distinct social system, and compellingly uses the framework of Fordism and Post-Fordism to highlight and understand changes in work and employment over the 20th and 21st centuries.
We have used the previous edition so we will continue using the latest edition.
Fantastic analysis of employment and a great primer for a deeper analysis of the topic.
A clear and comprehensive introduction to the sociology of work
A valuable overview of the sociology of work that effectively introduces students to key topics and debates
An excellent book that is accessible and comprehensive for students studying the sociology of work. Straightforward writing in key concepts makes this accessible for students new to the sociology of work.
The book provides an excellent overview of topics that are central to the course, namely managing culture at work, industrial work, service work and non-standard work. The analysis is more in-depth than what is offered in standard OB books.
This is a comprehensive and well written academic text. It is both sturdy and stealthy for any student interested in 'work', which fortunately amounts to quite a few... thanks for writing.
