Loss of Self

This chapter explores our loss of self and our disappearance at work as a worthwhile person and worker. Work becomes robotic, automatic, and mechanical. The workplace and self experience feel lifeless. The psychological implications for the disappeared and disappearing workers seems pretty clear. The workplace can become an instrument of torture where many workers are so undervalued and so disposable that supervisors, managers, and executives many times need not acknowledge their presence, value, or their contributions to keeping the organization running and profitable. Members of organizations occupy a vast range of positions, usually in a hierarchical pyramid that has ever-fewer positions nearing the top of the pyramid that culminates in the great leader–CEO, president, director, or owner. There are many people who work much of their lives noticed only occasionally as people, but most often for the products of their work, the quality of which is taken for granted.