The United States and Her Division of Labor

          Work is the one thing that all men have in common in our nation. It drives our nation's economy and dictates the life you live. Although everyone works, work varies widely from person to person. Is work divided up fairly in our country? I believe the answer to this question depends on where you stand personally in job status.

          Robert Devlin is the CEO of American General Corporation. He is undoubtedly wealthy and seem very content and happy with his current occupation. He admits that the job brings with it a certain pressure but says he does not mind the pressure. He says, "no one individual can make all the decisions-nor should they." He goes on to explain that there is a division of labor and that this is prevalent in large companies for this is what makes them run efficiently. Although he gets paid heavily, it does not come without a price. When the company does poorly, he is to blame. Robert Devlin trusts that at least in his company, the division of labor is fair.

          Javier Lopez is a poultry factory worker in North Carolina and looks at America's division of labor quite differently. Although Lopez is in our country illegally, he finds a steady employer. Javier is greatly dissatisfied with  his work. Although he works very hard, he is paid poorly. The white worker is treated much better and upper management cares little about its workers. In Lopez's mind, the work could be divided out more fairly or management could take certain steps to benefit the employees.

          Whether or not ones thinks work is divided up equally in the U.S. depends on the eye of the beholder. A man who owns a company and gets paid well for his labor probably holds the viewpoint that the work is equal down the ladder in the company. The factory worker might think the complete opposite. Although the worker may work harder and for more hours, he does make close to the CEO. Now of course this is appropriate to a certain extent because the leaders and founders of a company should make more. But they should not abuse their workers by paying them less than they deserve. I believe that large companies should take the initiative to reward good, hard work with bonuses and perks.