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