Over the past decade, Americans have been impacted by significant changes in the workplace. The research problem addressed in this study was whether there has been a resulting change in the social contract and a lessoning of commitment by employers to employees during this period. Significant changes in the social contract may have a critical impact on employees' financial security and important health benefits.

The research focused on the period from 1994 to 2004. Key research questions focused on the number of employees now working part time or under contract, how many jobs have been outsourced, and how many employees have lost health benefits during this 10-year span. Statistics from the U.S. Labor Board, U.S. Census Bureau, news and business journals, and peer-reviewed journals were analyzed. Historical and analytical literature methods were used to examine the changes.

The results of the study indicate that compared to 1994, in 2004, moderately more employees work part time, as compared to full time, and uncertainty about the amount of available work hours increased dramatically, leading to a growing lack of financial security. Outsourcing continued to increase substantially, increasing by almost six fold from 2000-2005. As the landscape of work has changed, there has been a further loss of health benefits for many employees.

Key recommendations include creating different forms of healthcare to meet the current needs of employees. Other recommendations include the need for companies to devise different ways of structuring work that fosters stable and longer term employment for employees.

The positive social impact of the study demonstrates the need for companies to evaluate new ways to ensure that work and health benefits are more stable. This would ensure that the health and personal lives of American workers would not continue to suffer.