Beyond the Bottom Line: The Search for Dignity at Work

235 Pages·2001·9.836 MB·English

by  Paula M. Rayman (auth.)

"American corporate culture is creating a nation of working families
who are overworked, stressed out and in desperate need of time
together. Paula Rayman gets to the heart of this dilemma in this
valuable book, and delivers a challenge for change."
-John Sweeney, President, AFL-CIO
"Enlightened CEOs understand the enormous importance to the
bottom line of creating a context for work and the work place that
accommodates the human needs of every employee. Paula Rayman
provides invaluable insights for those seeking to better understand
those needs, and their significance."
-Randall L. Tobias, Chairman Emeritus,
Eli Lilly and Company and former Vice Chairman, AT&T
"Paula Rayman's Beyond the Bottom Line raises troubling questions
about the way we organize our lives and work. Rayman advances
the discussion with a profoundly humanistic critique of corporate
culture-and some wonderfully canny suggestions for change. This
hopeful, energizing, book will be shaping policies discussions-and
dinner-table conversations-for years to come."
-Barbara Ehrenreich, author of
Nickle and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America
"The Radcliffe Public Policy Center, which Paula Rayman heads,
has focused since its founding on finding effective ways to combine
our country's impressive economic growth and flexibility with
personal security and well-being for individuals and families.
Combining well-designed research with passionate commitment,
she not only outlines the issues but describes the results of creative
experiments that have enabled companies to do well by doing good,
a win-win situation for all concerned."
-Marina V.N. Whitman, Professor of Business
Administration and Public Policy, University of Michigan;
author of New World, New Rules: The Changing Role
of the American Corporation
"As an economist, Paula Rayman brings an important and unique
perspective to the most fundamentally important issue of our day
'having work that provides dignity and a family life that provides
unrushed time for caring.' Rayman argues persuasively that exter
nalities must be included in calculating the costs and benefits of our
current economy. This new economic equation needs to consider
what is productive for our economy, for the well-being of families,
and for the viability of society. Rayman's views challenge current
skepticism and cynicism, arguing that change in how we live and
work is not only possible, but there are concrete signs it is beginning
to occur."
-Ellen Galinsky, President, Families and Work Institute,
and author of Ask the Children: The Breakthrough Study That
Reveals How To Succeed At Work And At Parenting
"In searing portraits of America, its businesses, families, and its
workers, Paula Rayman weaves together economics and sociology
with a profound understanding of the quest for spiritual values in
contemporary life. The book should serve as both an alarm bell and
a guide book for politicians, CEOs, religious thinkers, the American
worker-and for all those who recognize that America's future
depends on restoring dignity, social responsibility, and balance to
our work lives."
-Rabbi David Saperstein, Director,
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
BEYOND
t h e
BOTTOM LINE
The· Search for Dignity at Work
Paula M. Rayman
Palgrave
* BEYOND THE BOTTOM LINE
© Paula M. Rayman, 2001
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 2001 978-0-312-22282-6
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or
reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written per
mission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in
critical articles or reviews.
First published 2001 by
PALGRAVE™
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y.10010.
Companies and representatives throughout the world.
PALGRAVEis the new global publishing imprint of St. Martin's
Press LLC Scholarly and Reference Division and Palgrave Publish
ers Ltd (formerly Macmillan Press Ltd).
ISBN 978-1-349-62250-4 ISBN 978-1-137-04513-3 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-1-137-04513-3
"3 STRANGE DAYS," quoted in chapter three,
by Michael Ward &: josh Clayton-Felt
© 1991 Dan Is Here/Ruff Ruff Ruff Music/New Envoy Music
(ASCAP)
All Rights Reserved. Reprinted by Permission.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Rayman, Paula M.
Beyond the bottom line : the search for dignity at work /
Paula M. Rayman
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Work ethic. 2. Work--Psychological aspects. 3. Dignity. I.
Title.
HD4905 .R35 2001
158.7--dc21 00-046876
Design by Acme Art, Inc.
First edition: March 2001
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
In honor of the life work of Rita R. Rayman
In celebration of the future life work of
Alyssa and Lily Rayman-Read
In appreciation of Rob Read's dignity in life and work
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CONTENTS
Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
xiii
SECTION ONE
ROOTS
CHAPTER ONE
Genesis ................... . 3
CHAPTER TW 0
livelihood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
25
CHAPTER THREE
Self-Respect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . s9
CHAPTER FOUR
Social Responsibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . s1
SECTION TWO
PRESENT
CHAPTER FIVE
The Biotech Story ............... . . . . . . . . . . 109
CHAPTER SIX
The Bank Story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
SECTION THREE
FUTURE
CHAPTER SEVEN
Can You Work and Have a Life?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19s
Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2o5
Index .................................. .
213
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This book was conceived over two decades ago, and its birth, after
a very extended pregnancy, is due to many helpful hands. Foremost
are the hundreds of people from near and afar who have shared their
stories of work, family and community with me. These men and
women have inspired my belief that the human search for dignity
can be successful.
There are two other groups that deserve special recognition.
First, my "readers" group, Sharon Bauer, Lisa Dodson, and Roz
Feldberg, who acted as super midwives all through the process.
Sharon reminded me that the turtle wins the race; Lisa urged me to
keep my own voice; and Roz never let me forget how economic
justice and dignity are interwoven. Second, my havurah group
Sharon and David, judy and Peter-who have kept alive the spirit
of nonviolence which taught me to keep my eyes on the prize.
A number of wonderful institutions over the years provided the
space and sustenance for creative activity. Kibbutz Hanita offered a
glimpse of how work could be organized to sustain. family life. Boston
College offered a congenial place to learn about conducting research
across disciplinary boundaries. My Wellesley College and Bunting
Institute experiences brought home the meaning of work in the lives
of women of all ages from all walks of life. And most recently,
Radcliffe College and now Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Study at
Harvard University made resources of time, space, and research
assistance generously available. President Linda Wilson graciously