Labor v. Work
What is the difference between labor and work?
Is there a difference? Are they not the same thing?
The difference between work and labor is that work is more of an intended activity that is done by one’s will. Although labor can be intended as well, to me labor seems to be more forced and requires doing the groundwork in order to receive something back.
Karl Marx defines work as an organized labor that separates humans from animals. He describes how the problem with labor is its alienation, and not the work itself.
Physical and Emotional Labor
What is Physical Labor?
Physical labor is a term used for manual labor in which humans use their body, machines, and sometimes animals, as well as their body strength to perform the labor
Examples: construction work, farming, shelf stocking
What is Emotional Labor?
Emotional labor is typically work that requires certain emotions towards a particular audience.
Examples: social workers, teachers/professors, childcare providers
Physical and Emotional Labor at work
I am a certified Pharmacy Technician and currently work at a CVS inside a target. I have been working for over a year now, and I have come to the realization that my job consists of both emotional and physical labor.
As I am on the front line of helping customers get their prescriptions at the lowest cost possible, my job requires me to put on a welcoming, smiley, and “ready to help” face. Even if I am not in a good mood that day, it is my job to put everything aside and look approachable. Although some customers may be disrespectful or get frustrated about any possible problem, I am required to keep my emotions intact for my customers to get the best experience and satisfaction possible.
Working as a Pharmacy Technician at CVS also requires physical labor in which we do inventory every week. Inventory consists of unpacking boxes of drugs and shelving them. While working at a fast pace pharmacy, I am constantly on the go with finding the particular drug, counting and filling the medication, and making sure their prescription goes through the insurance, all while trying to help customers picking up their medications at the same time.
Not just a Pharmacy Technician job, but many jobs across the world consists of both emotional and physical labor, and sometimes we may not realize that.
Unruly Bodies 