The following letter and report are being sent this week to a
number of residents and organizations in the Ottawa area and
to the media.
Ottawa September 1998
Dear Community Resident:
We are a group of Ottawa area residents who share a concern
about the impact of changing work patterns on our community.
Two years ago we convened a Community Inquiry on Work which
provided an opportunity for ourselves and other residents
to share their work-related experiences, both paid and
unpaid.
Through this process, and numerous conversations that took
place around it, it became apparent that as a society we lack
a coherent view about the place of work in our lives. Current
perceptions of work and working appear to be preventing a
more rewarding allocation of time and talent to the world's
work.
We hope that you will read this report and share it with
others in what ever manner you feel is appropriate. If you
are involved in a community organization, please consider it
as a topic for discussion. You are welcome to publish the
report in your newsletter.
Thank you for your attention to the attached report.
Sylvia Gold (convenor)
Anne Betz
Ann Denis
Marilyn Fevrier
Peter Johnson
Marilynn Kuhn
Gail Stewart
Pat Webb
For information:(613)729-0819, (613)730-0283, (613)730-2796
COMMUNITY INQUIRY ON WORK
Final Report
Background
As a group of Ottawa residents we began meeting two years ago
to consider the problems in this community associated with
"work." We chose to convene as a Community Inquiry, a way of
addressing issues of local importance in a reflective and
mutually respectful manner.* We felt that the issue of work
was of great importance and was troubling many people in the
community in many ways.
Individuals we heard from in our inquiry on work tended to
see the issues from a personal or short-term perspective and
to seek solutions on that basis. For example, there were many
stories about work overload (long hours, limited vacations,
lack of family time). The problem tended to be seen as
fallout from conditions at the individual's workplace: the
"corporate culture." In other cases, where individuals were
seeking income-producing work, they spoke of being unable to
use the skills they had developed. And some, who have left
(or not entered) the paid work force and would willingly work
not for the money but for the usefulness and respect
associated with work, are unable to find a role that feels
"right."
These, it turned out, were hints. The problems expressed
often seemed unconnected or only vaguely related. And they
did seem to be increasing.
Initial reflections
Trying ourselves to understand the issues, we came to see the
problems associated with work as indicators of long-term
societal changes. These changes, we believe, are not yet
widely recognized or appreciated. We think that a coherent
systemic view may emerge as more of us talk with each other
about work and working. This could lead to a more balanced,
productive and less stressed society.
The history of social change has taught us that "issues"
develop only when we begin to recognize our own personal
experience as part of a common shared experience. Work
reform, as a social movement, has barely begun. But there are
signs the public's faith in traditional working arrangements
and its associated values and ethics is eroding. There is a
noticeable receptivity to ideas that challenge conventional
wisdom about work. We need to find effective means to further
public discussion and debate about work and the work
revolution.
What seems to be missing in our community is a shared sense
of the "big picture" of work and working:
scope -- work as an immense body of activity
that could be defined as including
much, if not most, of what each of us
does daily
recognition -- work as consisting of unpaid and also
paid activity
re-valuing -- unpaid work, including volunteer work,
as the unacknowledged lifeblood of
communities
distribution -- work as something that some people have
too much of, while others are looking
for more
clarification -- work as an activity people may say they
want when they really mean they want
income, or respect, or colleagues, or
something to structure their days, or
feel they have a contribution to make
awareness -- work as something that needs thinking
and talking about to make our lives
more satisfying and keep our
communities productive
flexibility -- working arrangements as inventions that
can be altered
We believe that the public discussion of work, ranging from
individual experiences to the larger picture, is important.
What seems to be needed are opportunities to talk about work
in settings where people feel safe and comfortable about
sharing their thoughts and feelings about work.
Our conversations generated many good ideas. Ideas that can
be undertaken by any of us as we go about our daily lives.
These included initiating informal conversations in our
families, workplaces or in social gatherings. On a broader
level, it can be discussions scheduled at conferences,
workshops, or through task forces. Organizations, alone or in
partnership, can convene research projects or pilot projects.
The community can be involved through discussions in public
spaces such as shopping malls or community centres. Games can
be developed to encourage small groups to explore the issues.
Essay contests can engage the interest of some people, and
discussion groups on community cable TV can generate yet more
interest and involvement.
Our enquiry shows that we can all pioneer, in our own
communities, innovative and creative responses to our work
arrangements. This can occur through our own unique solutions
or through adoption of ideas that have proved their worth
elsewhere. Whatever we choose to do we will be doing
ourselves and others an invaluable service.
Our hope is that this brief report will promote discussions
about work that will contribute to the development of the
kind of society we all want our work to support.
Sylvia Gold (convenor)
Anne Betz
Ann Denis
Marilyn Fevrier
Peter Johnson
Marilynn Kuhn
Gail Stewart
Pat Webb
For information: (613)729-0819, (613)730-0283, (613)730-2796
Ottawa September 1998
* Our interim and final reports on the concept of community
inquiries and on work are available on National Capital
Freenet. At the prompt, type "go misc" (without the quotation
marks) and look for the headings "Community Inquiries," and
"Community Inquiry on Work." These have been created as
Special Interest Groups (SIGs). The final report on Community
Inquiries includes some guidelines for community inquiries.
--
Gail Stewart
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
