Hints：

本文讲述了美国日益增长的小时工和临时工的现象及其社会影响。

Manpower Inc.

General Motors

IBM

Milwaukee

Wisconsin



Manpower Inc., with 560,000 workers, is the world's largest temporary employment agency. Every morning, its people swarm into the offices and factories of America, seeking a day's work for a day's pay. One day at a time. As industrial giants like General Motors and IBM struggle to survive by reducing the number of employees, Manpower, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is booming. Even though its economy continues to recover, the US is increasingly becoming a nation of part timers and temporary workers. This disposable work force is the most important trend in American business today, and it is fundamentally changing the relationship between people and their jobs. The phenomenon provides a way for companies to remain globally competitive while avoiding market cycles and the growing burdens imposed by employment rules, healthcare costs and pension plans. For workers it can mean an end to the security, benefits and sense of importance that came from being a loyal employee.
拥有56万雇员的“人力资源公司”是全球最大的临时就业中介机构。每天清晨，公司中大量的人员涌入美国的办公室和工厂中，为获得一天的收入来寻找一份工作，干一天算一天。当通用汽车公司和IBM等工业巨头靠裁员而勉强支撑时，坐落于威斯康星州麦尔乌柯市的人力资源公司却在蓬勃地发展。 虽然美国的经济还在继续复苏，美国却日益成为一个兼职者和临时工的国家。这种“即用即抛型”劳动力已成为美国企业用人最为重要的趋势。它也正在从根本上改变人们和他们所从事的工作之间的关系。这一现象给公司提供了一种方式，使得它们能够在全球范围内具有竞争性，同时又可以避免市场的周期性和由就业法规、医疗保险和退休金方案所带来的逐渐加重的负担。对工人来说，这意味着作为一名忠实雇员所享有的安全感、福利以及从属带来的重要感都一去不复返了。