Environments of Compensation and Benefits Administration

Work and the Social Environment

Now that we have looked at some of the economic environmental factors that influence compensation and benefits administration, let's survey the social environment. This section examines the two major forces that shape work in our society: work and workers.

What is Work?

Defining work is not as easy as it appears. Work is what most of us do to earn a living, but it is also done by members of volunteer organizations. To many of us, work consists of activities performed for others, but this definition excludes the self-employed.

The best description of work is:

Sustained activity directed toward accomplishing goals, including the attainment of rewards such as pay.

Numerous forces will determine the future of work, including the:

• goods and services we demand (want and can afford)
• number and qualifications of workers
• technology available