| This ethnographic, micro-level study viewed clerical temps' worklife through the framework of occupational folklore, which is informed by the interpretive paradigm. The focus of the study was interpersonal workplace dynamics, feelings and sub-culture experienced by and created by temporaries, from an “insider's” perspective. Workplace dynamics includes interpersonal relationships between temps and other temps, “regular” employees, bosses, and temp agency personnel. The study focused on work experience narratives, referred to more generally as personal experience stories since temp work culture reflects a sparseness of physical artifacts, and other customary expressive elements characteristic of many well-established work-groups. Research questions specifically address the characteristics and processes of temp occupational sub-cultures.; Key constructs include the folklore concepts of esoteric and exoteric culture which are related to emic/etic and insider/outsider perspectives, and occupational sub-cultures. Since temps frequently do not work in stable group settings, the concept of Interpersonal Communicative Expressive Networks was used in addition to the concept of group.; Data collection techniques emphasized open-ended (ethnographic) interviewing, but included participant and non-participant observation, as well as study of written materials.; Esoteric temp culture is expressed and created primarily through conversation and personal narratives by individual workers, navigating their work roles, largely in social isolation. The element of tradition is largely missing. Temp occupational culture is not taught to newcomers to any great extent. More often, temps are initiated into their work roles by temp agency reps, client site supervisors and permanent co-workers.; Temp culture is exceptionally constricted, due largely to the multiple controls on the part of both the organization and the agency and the often fleeting contact temps have with each other. There are few jokes, little play, cartoons, doodles, graffiti, personalization of workspaces, special language or sayings.; The need for appropriate on the job training was amply substantiated, as well as a need to interject mechanisms that would humanize the workplace for temporaries. Further ethnographic research on the experience of temporary work will promote understanding of the impact of the contingent work on individuals' lives. |
