Course Outline & Schedule

Please note that the timing of activities, topics, and readings listed below may change. I will give you timely notice of any major changes in class and through Moodle.

You should complete readings before the start of class on the listed due date.
You should complete homeworks before 5pm on the Wednesday before class.

Week

Date

Topic

Readings

Assignments

REMEMBER: Attendance & participation are required in every class

1

16.2

Thinking about work

- Course introduction

- What is work?

- Why do economic systems & national history matter for work?

Syllabus

Dizikes

2

23.2

Understanding jobs

- Types of jobs

- Dimensions of work

Bowe, Bowe, and Streeter

Homework 1 due (Wed 5pm before class)

3	2.3	US and Czech work structure (Part 1) - Work-related national histories (overview) - Major work eras - Globalization, automation/AI, & outsourcing	Eggers pp. 101-108 Shumway Volti Ch. 5	Homework 2 due (Wed 5pm before class)
4	9.3	US and Czech work structure (Part 2) - Wages, hours, vacations, & health insurance - Federal & state employment laws - The unemployment process	DOL EEO DOL FLSA Volti Ch. 14 (pp. 253-269)	Homework 3 due (Wed 5pm before class)
5	16.3	The Great Recession & the COVID Recession	Napolitano et al	Homework 4 due (Wed 5pm before class)
6	23.3	US and Czech work culture - Work & identity - Attitudes toward work - Work-life balance	Vaněk and Mücke	Homework 5 due (Wed 5pm before class)
7	30.3	Work-related problems (Part 1) - Job stress & mental health - Decline of unions (US)	Norris Ch. 3	Homework 6 due (Wed 5pm before class)
Week 8 – no class 6.4 – Dean Day/Easter Holidays
9	13.4	Work-related problems (Part 2) - Unemployment, identity, & mental health	Sheehan	Homework 7 due (Wed 5pm before class) Exam outline work session #1: Prepare in class – due at end of class
10	20.4	Social statuses at work (Part 1) - Gender	Benard & Correll	Homework 8 due (Wed 5pm before class)
11	27.4	Social statuses at work (Part 2) - Race, ethnicity, & national origin - Social class of origin	Wingfield Lubrano	Homework 9 due (Wed 5pm before class)
12	4.5	Social statuses at work (Part 3) - Age & generations	Standifer & Lester	Homework 10 due (Wed 5pm before class)

13

11.5

Revisiting the big picture: US & Czech work structures/cultures & their effects

- Review of main points

- Discussion

- Final exam outline prep

No new readings

Exam outline work session #2: Prepare in class – due at end of class

Finals period (June) - specific dates to be determined

FINAL EXAM (cumulative) – handwritten in class

No new readings

Bring prepared outlines

FINAL EXAM