This essay arises from the author's spirit of bringing to the investigation the indignant reaction over the incessant efforts of instrumentalizing men at work and over the concern with the consequences of this process for a society like ours. It has the purpose of reaching a critical reinterpretation of the Quality of Work Life Movement (QWL), uncovering its tools of men instrumentalization for the capital and revealing its true nature. The work begins with an interpretation of the historical evolution of science and administration practice, analyzing its purposes, uncovering the system functional logic and culminating in the revelation of some of its oppressive mechanisms. It discusses control mechanisms under the attached dimensions of the QWL models, using the classification of three authors (GORZ, 2003; MOTTA; 2000; PAGÉS et al, 1993) with the intention of uncovering the control exercise. It points out, this way, that the direct and indirect rewards, the secure and attractive work atmosphere conditions, the work conception, the individual autonomy and participation, the company social image and the equilibrium among work, family and leisure promote, actually, the individual instrumentalization at work through the more and more sophisticated methods of social control.
quality of work life; social control
