View source for Grey-collar

{{Short description|Employed people not classified as white- or blue collar}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
[[File:Mortician's resorative tools.JPG|thumb|Mortician's restorative tools, [[Museum of Funeral Customs]], [[Springfield, Illinois]]]]
'''Grey-collar''' refers to professions where the nature of the work cannot easily be classified as [[blue-collar worker|blue-collar]] or [[white-collar worker|white-collar]]. As such, the category represents an [[intermediary]] between blue-collar and white-collar work that combines elements of both categories in regard to the nature of the work and the required type of training, [[professional license|licensure]], and [[formal education]]. In general, the category requires more [[intellectual labor]] than would be required of a blue-collar profession and more [[physical labor]] than would be required of a white-collar profession. The concept helps address, but does not fully resolve, [[classism|classist]] attitudes towards and [[misconceptions]] about different professions. 

The concept is more loosely defined than the [[dichotomy]] of blue- vs white- collar, and is therefore somewhat [[controversial]]. Grey-collar may be interpreted as a [[spectrum]] between the two extremes of blue- and white- collar. Due to the open-ended nature of the concept and the issues with treating blue- and white- collar as a rigid binary, a wide range of professions may be considered grey-collar. As such, definitions of the category may differ across contexts and in individual interpretation. 

For example, a [[physician]] is typically categorized as a white-collar profession. However, the physical nature of performing hands-on procedures, like [[surgery]], could place medical doctors into the grey-collar profession despite the extensivity of [[academic]] requirements, high [[wages]], and exclusivity of the profession. Such factors are typically and inaccurately associated with the concept of a white-collar profession and help form the basis for the classist belief that white-collar workers are inherently superior people overall relative to blue-collar works. 

Grey-collar positions may represent a form of career advancement wherein a skilled [[tradesperson]] takes on [[management|managerial duties]] supervising others who perform [[manual labour|manual labor]] and/or [[tradesperson|skilled trades]]. For example, the duties of a [[construction Foreman]] incorporate elements of both blue- and white- collar work. Similarly, an [[entrepreneur|entrepreneurial]] tradesperson who owns their own business performing their trade may be classed as grey-collar. Such transitions may or may not require additional licensure and/or formal education. 

However, grey-collar does not solely refer to supervisory roles. Any profession that incorporates elements of both blue- and white- collar may be categorized as grey-collar. Furthermore, specialization and/or the manner in which work is preformed may affect into which category a particular worker falls. As such, some professions may not neatly fall into the blue-collar or grey-collar categories, as some professionals in the [[career]] may be required to perform intellectual labor while others may not. 

For example, a [[plumber]] who specializes in repair may be considered a grey-collar worker due to the amount of intellectual work required to diagnose why a [[plumbing]] system is malfunctioning. Conversely, a plumber who [[professional speciality|specializes]] in [[new construction]] or renovation may be classed as blue-collar if they lack professional [[autonomy]] in deciding how the plumbing system should be laid out; ie they are expected to strictly adhere to construction plans that were drafted by an [[engineer]] or other white-collar worker. However, a new construction or renovation plumber who is tasked with performing the intellectual work of determining how to layout the new plumbing systems may be considered grey-collar. 

There may also be overlap with similarly loosely defined work categories, such as [[pink collar work]]. For example, the [[nurse|nursing profession]] and other [[allied health professions]]. 

The fields that most recognize the differences between blue-collar and grey-collar are [[human resources]] and the [[insurance industry]]. Due to the blended nature of the work, grey-collar professionals may have more complex [[insurance]] requirements compared to blue- and white-collar workers. 

For example, a [[paramedic]] is likely to be at increased risk of [[occupational injury]] due to the physical aspects of the job. They are also at risk of increased risk of causing harm to others due to both the physical aspects and the intellectual aspects of the job. [[Medical malpractice]] may be the result of an incorrectly performed medical procedure; ie. a blue-collar aspect of the job, or it may be the result of inadequate treatment decisions due to an inaccurate [[field diagnosis]] or lack of necessary foundational medical [[knowledge]] to be able to use [[Medical standing order|standing orders]] from a physician safely and correctly; ie. a white-collar aspect of the job. As such, the [[workers compensation]] liability and the [[personal injury]] [[Legal liability|liability]] for injury to non-employees may be greater for the [[employer]] relative to blue- or white-collar professions. 

The term may also be used to describe elderly individuals working beyond the typical age of [[retirement]], regardless of [[profession]] type.

==Examples==
Example occupations:
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* [[Aircraft pilot]]/airline pilot<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2024/02/01/gray-collar-jobs-offer-the-best-of-both-white-and-blue-collar-opportunities/?sh=1bfcc477e4ab | title=Gray-Collar Jobs Offer the Best of Both White and Blue-Collar Opportunities | website=[[Forbes]] }}</ref> 
* [[Clergy]]
* [[Customer support]]
* [[Emergency medical services]] personnel
* [[Farmer]] or [[agribusiness]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hrinasia.com/general/what-are-grey-collar-workers/|title=What Are Grey-Collar Workers?|date=2014-09-11|work=[[HR in Asia]]|access-date=2018-11-05}}</ref>
* [[Flight attendants]]
* [[Firefighters]]
* [[Funeral director]]
* [[Paralegal]]s
* [[Police officers]]
* [[Security Officers]]
* [[Military|Military personnel]]
* [[School administrators]]
* [[Commercial cleaning]]
* [[Chefs]]
* [[Tradesman|Skilled tradespeople]] and [[technician]]s<ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200412/21/eng20041221_168119.html|title=China strives to cultivate grey collar workers|date=2004-12-21|work=[[People's Daily]]|access-date=2008-11-07}}</ref>
* [[Shorthand|Stenographers]]
* [[Teachers]] 
* [[Audio typist|Typists]]
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==Other definitions==
The ''[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]'' wrote that another definition for grey collar could be the underemployed white collar worker.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/businessnews/2006/08/11/It-s-not-just-blue-or-white-collar-anymore-as-consultants-labels-for-new-jobs-to-the-pallette/stories/200608110192|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414235410/http://www.post-gazette.com/businessnews/2006/08/11/It-s-not-just-blue-or-white-collar-anymore-as-consultants-labels-for-new-jobs-to-the-pallette/stories/200608110192|url-status=dead|archive-date=2018-04-14|title=It's not just blue or white collar anymore as consultants labels for new jobs to the pallette|last=Sostek|first=Anya|date=2006-08-11|work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|access-date=2018-04-14|quote=The least defined term of all seems to be grey collar, which can refer to those working well into their 60s, because they can't afford to retire, or to an underemployed white collar worker, such as someone with a bachelor's degree in English literature working as a customer service representative.}}</ref>

Charles Brecher of the Citizens Budget Commission and the Partnership for New York City defined it as sub-blue-collar jobs: "maintenance and [[Janitor|custodial]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.workforce.com/section/news/article/business-groups-attack-new-york-citys-lavish-health-benefits.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718113621/http://www.workforce.com/section/news/article/business-groups-attack-new-york-citys-lavish-health-benefits.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-07-18|title=Business Groups Attack New York City's 'Lavish' Health Benefits|date=2009-12-18|work=Workforce Management}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Designation of workers by collar color]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Wiktionary-inline|grey-collar}}

{{Social class}}
{{Employment}}

[[Category:Social classes]]
[[Category:Employment classifications]]


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