Women in the Office

AUTHOR CAMPAIGNS FOR ARMY OF OFFICE WORKERS

Eyerman shares a dozen [office workers'] stories in her book. "The global economy doesn't run without us at our desks," she says. Eyerman's ... book is strong, angry, bitter, pessimistic. The women she interviews rail against the dehumanizing conditions in their offices: the shifting technology, the pressure to sell and meet quotas, the monitoring, the competition with younger workers. Most of these women were shy about telling their stories, not thinking they had anything to say that was important. Then Eyerman realized why they undervalued themselves. "When was the last time we were asked our opinion about our own work?" she writes in her introduction. "Office workers are one of the least likely groups to be asked about such matters - even though we number in the millions and form one of the largest employment groups in any economy. We are the behind-the-scenes workers, the support staff hired to hold up the infrastructure so the people we work for can get their work done. Some have called us the 'glue' of an organization and anyone knows that if glue is used correctly, you don't see it."

She wants office workers to protect their turf, to demand their right to be consulted in a changing environment. "You're so used to being competent, efficient, available, that when new things are lobbed your way, you take care of them. You're constantly training on new technology and that's okay. What's not okay is when people around you don't respect the work you do in adapting to the global economy. You know you have the skills to get through this. Now you need to value your work and yourselves."

Eyerman is asked why administrative staff don't get the big salaries and bonuses that executives do. Her answer: Start a lobbying campaign with 9 to 5, the National Association of Working Women (www.9to5.org), a U.S. group devoted to better wages and working conditions and family-friendly policies. Good news: Eyerman has volunteered to start the first Canadian chapter.