Formostofus,theworkisthecentral,dominatingfactoroflife.Wespendmorethanhalfourconscioushoursatwork,travelingtoandfromwork.
Whatwedotherelargelydeterminesourstandardoflivingandtoaconsiderableextentthestatusweareaccordedbyourfellowcitizensaswell.
Itissometimessaidthatbecauseleisurehasbecomemoreimportant,theindignitiesandinjusticesofworkcanbepushedintoacorner,thatbecausemoreworkisprettyintolerable,thepeoplewhodoitshouldcompensateforitsboredom,frustrationsandhumiliationsbyconcentratingtheirhopesontheotherpartsoftheirlives.
Irejectthatasacounselofdespair.Fortheforeseeablefuturethematerialandpsychologicalrewardswhichworkcanprovide,andtheconditionsinwhichworkisdone,willcontinuetoplayavitalpartindeterminingthesatisfactionthatlifecanoffer.Yetonlyasmallminoritycancontrolthepaceatwhichtheyworkortheconditionsinwhichtheirworkisdone;onlyforasmallminoritydoesworkofferscopeforcreativity,imaginationorinitiative.
Inequalityatworkandinworkisstilloneofthecruelestandmostglaringformsofinequalityinoursociety.Wecannothopetosolvethemoreobviousproblemsofindustriallife,manyofwhicharisedirectlyorindirectlyfromthefrustrationscreatedbyinequalityatwork,unlesswetackleithead-on.Stilllesscanwehopetocreateadecentandhumanesociety.