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Tony Horowitz: “Mr Edens Profits from Watching … Every Move”

Tony Horowitz: “Mr Edens Profits from Watching … Every Move”. Edens runs a factory style company that does “lockbox processing”, i.e. processing paperwork. Company is set up quite differently from what most would expect from a white-collar environment.

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Tony Horowitz: “Mr Edens Profits from Watching … Every Move”

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  1. Tony Horowitz: “Mr Edens Profits from Watching … Every Move” • Edens runs a factory style company that does “lockbox processing”, i.e. processing paperwork. • Company is set up quite differently from what most would expect from a white-collar environment. • No coffee, food, or religious ornaments on desks.

  2. Horowitz (cont. 1) • Quota’s: • 3 envelopes per minute • 8500 keystrokes per minute • Talking is forbidden. • Windows covered. • Cameras are everywhere. • Employees start at minimum wage, average is slightly more.

  3. Horowitz (cont. 2) • Is this a white-collar or blue collar job? What makes something white-collar? • Does the monitoring have to be so aggressive? (keep in mind that thousands of dollars are handled in cash and checks) • Is it about productivity or theft? • Is the analogy of the classroom a good one?

  4. Horowitz (cont. 3) • What of the “pedestal” or “birdhouse”? What of the black globe? • Experts say that monitoring results in a hostile work environment, pressure, and stress related illness. • National Labor Relations Board filed many complaints against Edens company. Complaints included threats, spying, and interrogation.

  5. Horiwitz (cont. 4) • Settled out of court and reinstated a fired employee. Also posted notice saying it would refrain from illegal activities during 2nd union vote, which failed. • Look at Edens’ language: • “This is a controlled environment” • “control cards” • “the cage”

  6. Horowitz (cont. 5) • “If you want to watch someone, it’s easier from behind because they don’t know you’re watching them” • “It’s not a Big Brother attitude. It’s more of a calming attitude” • Regarding the complaints: “It’s all noise” • “It’s got to add stress when everyone knows their production is being monitored. I don’t apologize for that.”

  7. Horowitz (cont. 6) • “I’m not paying people to chat. I’m paying them to open envelopes. I don’t want them looking out – it’s distracting. They’ll make mistakes.” • “We don’t ask these people to think – the machines think for them. They don’t have to make decisions.” • Workers of the office/factory felt lonely, trapped, and isolated. • No variety in the job. • Is this really Draconian?

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