Abstract
Over the last few decades, neoliberal policies have produced deep transformations in the world of work. The drive for increased productivity and profit maximization has led to processes of labor flexibilization, compartmentalization, and deunionization. Exploitative patterns inherent in capitalist work relationships have persisted and even intensified, especially in emerging countries. Paradoxically, despite the rhetoric from many governments and firms about defending workers’ rights, the reality in many organizational contexts includes extended working days, unpaid overtime, and limited (if any) labor benefits. Despite the ongoing expansion of neoliberalism’s effects on work relationships, labor exploitation has received little attention from scholars focusing on organizational contexts. This paper integrates critical theory, applied ethics, and organization studies to explore the dynamics of exploitation in organizational contexts, including its dimensions and mechanisms of reproduction, feedback, and resistance. The research design included conducting 53 in-depth interviews with workers from large and medium companies in several key industries in Peru. The investigation provides solid evidence of various manifestations of work exploitation, including unfair compensation, extended workloads, and unpaid overtime. It also explains the variety of mechanisms employed by managerial staff to reproduce and reinforce exploitative relationships. Furthermore, it examines the mechanisms of resistance used by workers, both direct and indirect, to challenge these relationships. In neoliberal times, exploitation has adopted increasingly sophisticated forms, which makes it difficult to identify and criticize.
Presenters
Mario Marcello Pasco-Dalla-PortaAssociate Professor, Departamento Académico de Ciencias de la Gestión, PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATÓLICA DEL PERÚ / RUC: 20155945860, Peru Levy Del Aguila Marchena
Pontifical Catholic University of Peru
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Work Exploitation, Workplace Relationships, Labor Rights, Critical Management Studies
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