Living in a box: psychosocial dimensions of health and control in the work of telemarketing

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to study how telemarketing operators experience work in relation to their health. The field study consisted in visiting a telemarketing company, interviewing former telemarketing operators and accessing internet websites (Orkut) that offered testimonials and evaluations on this kind of service. The literature review about Michel Foucault enabled to guide the description of the management control present in workplace architecture and in disciplinary mechanisms. The concept of heavy work oriented the understanding of those workers' experiences, which pointed to the effects of work in health. Accelerated work rhythm, need to be friendly and fast in attendance are some of the reasons for heavy work. Subsequently, considerations were made about some motivational techniques adopted by telemarketing companies to deal with the demands of work.