From slavery to serfdom we have made gigantic steps in terms of worker’s rights, up to including the right to a dignifying work into the Charter of Human Rights, we indeed took our time, and the struggles undertaken by our ancestors and still occurring in many corners of the world as still a current issue, lets not deny it, as well, lets understand that just like democracy workers’ rights are something to constantly safeguard and keep an eye on, in order not to step back into a past with more uncertainties, exploitation and poverty for many. So on the one hand we need to protect the rights we gained and on the other look forward towards what is the next step, what do we wish to gain more, what do we, in our present global and interconnected culture need? And how do we do so in a regenerative and sustainable way, so that our labour would benefit us, our communities and the non-human world as a whole? Just to mention two of the main trends on our planet today:
Work life balance – quoting an old proverb “Do we work to live or live to work?” one of the first union slogans used to be 888, 8 hours of work, 8 of sleep, 8 for leisure, in order to have a balanced life not centred only on work, therefore the right to have a meaningful life also outside the professional sphere.
Meaning-Making – The millennial generation seems unhappy with a job that merely provides the material means to get through life such as a salary. There is a wish of a meaning that goes beyond the monthly money, a meaningful and engaging profession. How many jobs exist today which are completely meaningless and actually have no real meaning or purpose? You’d be surprised by the answer.
Our offer is that of focusing on social sustainability as the next step of worker’s rights, meaning a profession that provides material means to live a fulfilling life, that is also an opportunity for community building, that shares a feeling, as well as tangible practices, that the work that is carried out is meaningful and impactful for the workers, the community and the biosphere, fostering economic, social and technological development for all. Utopia, or worth giving it a shot?
Rescogita is a startup that focuses on education through training, coaching, capacity building and consulting, grounded on the principles of ecopsychology, meaning in identifying practical solutions to affect the wellbeing of the individual, the community and the biosphere in a single approach.