To understand Rinehart's claim about work and alienation, we must first have a clear understanding of the definition of the two terms. According to Rinehart, "Work has always had a profound impact on the lives of those who perform it." (Rinehart, p1). It can offer a sense of accomplishment or meaninglessness (pride or shame) depending on the view we have on the tasks involved. Presuming the type of work you do, it will affect the way in which you spend your free time (Rinehart, p1). The second term we must clearly understand is alienation. The development of this term can be credited to Karl Marx, "who used it to describe and interpret the organization of work that emerged with the industrial capitalism." (Rinehart, p11). In Rinehart's book, The Tyranny of Work, he refers to alienation as "...a condition in which individuals have little or no control over (a) the purposes and products of the labour process, (b) the overall organization of the workplace, and (c) the immediate work process itself." (p14). In order to evaluate the argument contained in the Rinehart text (The Tyranny of Work), I will compare my work experience with the three major sources of alienated labour and conclude that with my experience of work, it supports Rinehart's claims about work and alienation.
             In order to understand my evaluation of the argument contained in the Rinehart text, I must briefly explain my current job sphere. I am currently employed twenty hours a week at Pitney Bowes. This company is a major supplier of office equipment such as fax machines, photocopiers and mailing products. My job would be classified under white-collar traditional services, which operates in domestic and local markets. I hold a customer care position for new customer acquisitions. My job duties would include; responsible for sales of company products, and to give information about leasing and price plans. The work environment is relaxed, and it requires that I...