This book is an investigation of the effects of the 1996 welfare reform act, on poor working people

This is a book that was written by Barbara Ehrenreich inthe year 2001, and from the perspective of an undercover agent. The author of this book manages to investigate the various difficulties that poor laborers face, and this includes the costs that they incur while accessing necessities such as shelter, food, housing, etc. Some of the problems identified include consumption of unhealthy food substances, payment of high costs because of staying in a hotel, and inability to carter for their daily needs. Furthermore, the author of this book found out that manual labor is not interesting, and it is taxing and degrading. She asserts that the constant and repeated movement of their bodies is able to create a risk of repeated injury. Furthermore, these people suffer from too much body pain, but they have to hold on. Ehrenreich (22) further explains that the management of these manual laborers normally frustrates the work input of these workers. This is because they give these employees pointless tasks, which make their experiences to be miserable.
Ehrenreich (27) talks against the questionnaires and personality tests which are designed for purposes of weeding out employees who are not compatible with the organization. The author argues that these activities are a violation of the liberties of the workers, and they deter potential applicants, from applying. Furthermore, these activities have very little impact in improving the work performance of an employee. The author further asserts that in areas where there is a sign, that help is needed, does not necessarily mean that there is a job opening (Ehrenreich, 33). It aims is to make people apply for the jobs, so that there would be a pool of applicants when a vacancy arises. This is on jobs that have a high labor turnover. The author of this book concludes, by denoting that low waged employees are not living off the generosity of the wealthy, instead, it is the wealthy who are living off their generosity.
Works Cited:
Ehrenreich, Barbara. Nickel and Dimed: On (not) Getting by in America. New York:
Metropolitan, 2001. Print.