I define shadow work as all the unpaid jobs we do on behalf of
businesses and organizations: We are pumping our own gas, scanning our
own groceries, booking our travel and busing our tables at Starbucks.
Shadow work is a new concept, so as yet, no one has compiled economic
data on how many jobs we, the consumers, have taken over from
(erstwhile) employees. Yet it is surely a force shrinking the job
market, and the unemployment it creates is structural. Thanks in part to
this new phenomenon, widespread joblessness could become entrenched in
the social landscape.
Which reminds me. Grocery stores: what happened to your bag boys? The
$0.49/hr you were paying got too steep? What the fuck, now I find myself
having to fucking bag my own shit? And it’s always that awkwardness;
I’ll fumble with my money extra long so that the cashier will finally
decide to do it. Cause you feel like an asshole just standing there
until she finally does; people behind you sighing and rolling their
eyes. I’ll time it til she starts it, feign starting to reach for a bag
“oh, you got it, okay.” Is having someone bag my groceries too much too
ask, too steep a service? I don’t wanna fucking bag, I don’t know what
I’m doing, I’m putting the milk and croutons in the same bag with my
Over-Sized Specially Made I Hope She’s a Horse Hefty Bag Condoms; can
someone else fucking help me please?
No comments:
Post a Comment