What does Ehrenreich say is the principal source of disruption in the lives of her coworkers?

It’s not hard to get my co-workers to talk about their living situations, because housing; in almost every case, is the principal source of disruption in their lives, the first thing they fill you in on when they arrive for their shifts.

What does Ehrenreich argue in Nickel and Dimed?

Ehrenreich describes personality tests, questionnaires designed to weed out incompatible potential employees, and urine drug tests, increasingly common in the low wage market, arguing that they deter potential applicants and violate liberties while having little tangible positive effect on work performance.

Why did Ehrenreich write Nickel and Dimed?

Book Details Millions of Americans work full time, year round, for poverty-level wages. In 1998, Barbara Ehrenreich decided to join them. She was inspired in part by the rhetoric surrounding welfare reform, which promised that a job—any job—can be the ticket to a better life.

What does Ehrenreich do before every shift?

Terms in this set (50) What does Ehrenreich do before every shift? “I’ve been washing dishes since I was six years old, when my mother assigned me that task so that she could enjoy her postprandial cigarette in a timely fashion . . . .”

What is the main topic of Nickel and Dimed On Not Getting By in America?

Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America is a book written by Barbara Ehrenreich. Written from her perspective as an undercover journalist, it sets out to investigate the impact of the 1996 welfare reform act on the working poor in the United States.

How does Ehrenreich evaluate her skills as a low income worker?

In this last section, Ehrenreich evaluates her performance as a low-wage employee and her success at obtaining food and shelter. Overall, she thinks she did well as a worker and insists that no job is truly “unskilled.” She gives herself a B or B+.

What is Ehrenreich not able to do when her first paycheck is withheld?

It soaks her sock, but it is her only pair of shoes, so she continues to work. Ehrenreich learns that her first paycheck at The Maids is withheld until she quits or leaves. She will not have enough money for food.

Why does Ehrenreich suddenly quit working at the restaurant Jerry’s )?

Ehrenreich is unable to work at both the Hearthside and Jerry’s, so she quits the Hearthside because she will be able to make more money at Jerry’s. Ehrenreich decides to move closer to Key West to save gas money.