White-collar workers are a definition of lifestyle in the west, which is usually used to represent professionals with higher incomes. This word may have been used from 1928 at the earliest. At that time, it represented non-manual workers, such as civil servants and faculty, and was a group in contrast with blue-collar workers. White-collar workers are less engaged in manual labor, and the professional class in the company is often administrative or formal staff, who have professional working ability, such as doctors or lawyers. In some sociological studies, managers are sometimes classified as one of the white-collar workers.
The term "white-collar" first appeared in the early 1920s, and its scope included all non-manual workers who were employed and paid, so it was called "white-collar". Generally, their working conditions are neat, neatly dressed and their collars are white. Including technicians, managers, clerks, salesmen, typists, stenographers, clerks, accountants, shop assistants and teachers, doctors, lawyers, ordinary staff and so on. These people have good income and working conditions. However, because they have no means of production, they are still in the position of employment. In developed capitalist countries, the total number of white-collar workers exceeds that of blue-collar workers, accounting for about 60%-70% of the total number of workers. The white-collar class is an enviable class with good welfare, high income and stable status.
White collar example
According to American standards, white-collar workers refer to people who earn more than $80,000 a year and engage in pure mental work. Except for a few high-tech industries, most "white-collar workers" are in a crisis of survival. The imperfect labor system makes white-collar workers unable to get the protection they deserve. But by 1996, the figure of 80,000 can't keep up with the development speed of the times. Of course, the income levels of countries and even regions vary greatly, so there is no uniform standard for white-collar workers.
White-collar commune, the largest white-collar website in China, believes that white-collar workers generally refer to employees engaged in mental work in enterprises and institutions.
trait
White-collar workers usually appear in the streets of cities in bright clothes, strutting their heads and looking indifferent. From every corner of the city to the "noble work park"; The spotless leather shoes hurried out to remind passers-by that there was a lot of work to do and they were very busy. Computers, telephones and faxes are their closest working partners; Their competitors are countless, so they are always ready to accept new information and knowledge, constantly improve themselves, and at the same time reserve energy for entering the gold collar; They have a clear distinction between public and private affairs, and seldom leave work. They spend their spare time in leisure, charging, entertainment and fitness.
White-collar workers have now become an independent professional class, showing some distinctive social characteristics. Taking Shanghai white-collar workers as an example, we can summarize the following basic characteristics of domestic white-collar workers:
Pursuing diversity and high-quality life
The main class of white-collar workers is people aged 25-40. Many people's ideas, values and outlook on life were formed after the reform and opening up. For these white-collar workers, high-paying job opportunities are as important as a high-quality lifestyle. White-collar workers like all kinds of life forms, constantly looking for new fashions, and expressing their pursuit of quality of life through their own clothes and houses.
High mobility of occupation
White-collar workers have good educational background and work experience, and have more choices than other social classes, which creates conditions for their own "mobility".
A survey shows that in some highly mobile industries, such as IT, advertising, consulting, etc. The proportion of young white-collar job-hopping exceeds 20%. In March this year, CIIC Shanghai Company surveyed more than 5,000 employees working in foreign companies. These employees all had the experience of leaving their jobs in 2003. The survey found that the proportion of individuals who voluntarily resigned was as high as 67%, while only 12% and 1 1% were dismissed by the company and terminated their contracts naturally.
Strong pragmatic spirit
For white-collar workers, in real life, they are more concerned about how to get more benefits and opportunities. Compared with other parts of China, Shanghai white-collar workers are more concerned about the financial and real estate markets, such as exchange rate or stock market fluctuations. Because these changes are directly related to their own economic interests. This pragmatic value orientation runs through the life attitude of white-collar workers. Among the white-collar workers in Shanghai, there are many people who invest in real estate and buy and sell foreign exchange, government bonds and funds. In the past two years, a large number of financial media have met the needs of white-collar workers.
Pay attention to personal career development
A survey shows that when Shanghai white-collar workers choose a career, their career development prospects become the decisive factor, followed by salary and benefits. The first concern of white-collar job seekers is whether they can give full play to their personal advantages and abilities and whether they are conducive to their future career development. At the same time, a number of career consulting institutions have emerged in Shanghai, which have solved the demand of white-collar workers for career development services to some extent.
There is a general sense of tension and anxiety.
This is a prominent feature of the white-collar class. In the professional field of white-collar workers, the competition for most positions is very fierce. Today's high-paying job may become worthless tomorrow because of a new personnel change or a change in the industry. After the book "Who Moved My Cheese" was put on the shelves, it quickly spread among white-collar workers in Shanghai, and almost all employees of many large companies had one. Some white-collar workers began to seek the help of psychological counselors to ease the pressure of competition.
Have a sense of social responsibility
This is a new feature of the white-collar class. In the constant pursuit of material benefits, some white-collar workers are full of the pursuit of social responsibility. According to the person in charge of an international volunteer organization, most of its volunteers are managers and professionals of major companies in Shanghai. As volunteers, these white-collar workers help students at school through speeches, introductions and other means.