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Knowledge Work: New Metaphors For The New Economy, Catherine L. Fisk

Chicago-Kent Law Review

Metaphor and narrative have played a crucial role in shaping perceptions of the nature of employment relations. Lawyers, judges, and firms have long been "narrative entrepreneurs," deploying metaphor and story strategically to shape the legal culture of work. When AT&T cut 40,000 jobs in one year, its Vice President of Human Resources said from then on all workers should regard themselves as "self-employed . . . vendors who come to this company to sell their skills." The metaphor suggested that all formerly career employees were now "contingent" in the sense that they suddenly had the same employment contract as day …