Abstract: In this paper, I argue that changes in the structure of low-income work and developments in workplace technology have stripped away many of the “social goods” of such work. I identify the rise of platform gig work, adoption of automation tools, and use of employee efficiency monitoring technologies as developments that have both squeezed opportunities for socialization out of the workday and made it more difficult to find and plan social activities outside the workplace. I argue that the de-socialization of work is a matter of justice that should concern states and suggest a number of potential regulations and pro-worker reforms to address the problem. However, I note that whatever reforms states do pursue must remain attentive to the threat that technology displaces these working-class jobs altogether.
Chris Bousquet is a Visiting Assistant Teaching Professor in philosophy at Syracuse University, specializing in social and political philosophy and ethics. He received his PhD in philosophy from Syracuse in 2024 and bachelors from Hamilton College in 2016.