Incipient Workplace Democracy among United States Clerical Workers

Abstract

We begin by defining workplace democracy and by arguing that the rate and degree of change taking place in clerical work makes workplace democratization particularly relevant today. Focussing on the work process, we explore examples of incipient workplace democracy in four clerical settings: a data entry pool, a payroll office, ward secretaries in a hospital and secretaries in a university department. The unique aspects of clerical work — its femaleness, place in organizations and varying degrees of interaction with managers, professionals and clients — are analyzed to show how they have influenced the development of more democratic work organization in each setting.