In required readings this week I am learning about Fordism and Taylorism. I learned that systems were created in order to produce as much product as possible for as little cost as possible, all in order to maximize profits. I thought especially interesting were the methods used by Ford to control the movements of the workers in the plant. Spatial organization and limiting the amount of space each worker actually had meant that the movements of the workers were controlled, as well as home visits to ensure workers suitability to plant work. It is amazing what people will do in order to keep a job and food on the table.
This brought to mind an experience I had as a 20 year old working my way through college a number of years ago. I had, as one of my part-time jobs, a position as a “dietary aide” in a hospital kitchen. As each of us were busy with our required tasks the supervisors would periodically wander through the kitchen to ensure that we were busy and working, rather than slacking off (or sneaking off to the washroom with an ice cream cup for a snack). I remember that I was turning from sorting cutlery and folding paper napkins to put some items aside, or something. I noticed a supervisor stopping and looking at a napkin that had fallen on the floor. She stood over it for a few seconds and as I walked by, she held out her hand and told me to pick it up. The first thought in my head was, why don’t you pick it up, but I picked it up, as she stood there, and placed it in her hand.
The fact that I remember this experience all these years later, I think, says something. Looking back I would say she was asking me to do it in order to assert her authority over me. I wonder…
