BEEP BEEP BEEP, the shrill sound of an alarm pierces through the comforting hug of sleep, and almost instinctively, the first thing is to reach to check the time. After this, the clock is set; it’s time to get ready for the day, complete tasks, and try to make time for others, planning when to relax, when to work, and when to finally lie down for bed, but there is always that mental clock, timing everything. Why is this? This adherence to such a tight, busy schedule is due to a theory called Scientific management (sometimes referred to as Taylorism), developed by Fredrick Winslow Taylor in the 1880s, which aimed to increase the efficiency of employees in the workplace. Whether people realize it or not, this structure, designed solely to increase productivity and profit for large corporations, has been implemented in countless people’s everyday lives, whether in formative education or in the work later in life; both are direct results of Taylorism. Although this strictly set schedule has its benefits, it often fails to account for the many complexities of human life, leading to numerous downsides and a sense that the clock is always running out.
With this monitoring method applied, companies saw significant economic gains, reduced task completion time, and even higher employee wages. As a result, the economy was growing at unprecedented rates. Before this highly polished system, there were dramatically longer workdays, from sunrise to sunset, with no guarantee of days off. Taylorism made time for this needed leisure, reduced the skill requirements for jobs, and gave workers a reliable schedule and a sense of purpose. It is often praised as a huge benefit to humanity. However, this network didn’t only reprogram the day, but also the mental scape of people. Now, employees aren’t known on a personal level; they’re categorized by labor and model. School often doesn’t build on personal skills but instead focuses on rote memorization, critical thinking, standardized curricula, and set bells that move everyone along a rigid production line, preparing for factory-level work based entirely on efficiency. This tends to alienate people, making them feel like machines rather than humans. The day spirals into a monotonous cycle, repeating endlessly until death, and soon life is defined by completing these chores, always seeking higher earnings and more appraisal, rather than seeking personal meaning.
Another way Taylorism affected life was by creating positions such as managers and supervisors, leading to vast income stratification. Drawing a divide between the few who plan or control and those who execute the task, this widened the monetary gap between the two, creating classes of lower, middle, upper, and elite. In fact, according to CNBC, the top 10% now hold 68% of the nation’s wealth. This %10 turns into being an achievement; a dream for many; it is what almost every individual works towards, regardless of how they go about it, the end goal is obtaining financial freedom. Or in other words, being released from this constantly ticking clock, dictating every living breath of life. Taylorism stole much of the enjoyment from living, ridding it of surprise, emotion, and difference. While making it increasingly difficult to obtain said wealth, creating a wall that few can cross in a lifetime.
Unfortunately, it is what defines life; the search for meaning is now pushed off until after work, after commitments, after some downtime. Many may try to free themselves from this, or possibly “escape the matrix,” without realizing they are playing directly into the game, just like everyone else. Life shouldn’t be a race to turn off its alarm, working tirelessly to finally enjoy it. It should be about finding the deeper meaning and enjoying this rare chance that few have the privilege to use.
