Human Resource Management in the Pornography Industry

Book excerpt: While pornography is stigmatized as “dirty work," it faces many of the same operational considerations as traditional industries. From increasing competition, new technology that impacts services, to health and workplace safety issues, the pornography industry also utilizes and applies HRM strategies that include recruiting, selecting and retaining the best (sex) workers. As a follow up to his last book on the social history of training and development (2018), Kopp writes this final installment of a system contained within an unconventional setting as he reflects and distills the facets of human resource management found in the pornography industry. Specifically, this book explores traditional human resource management processes and practices, and examines how common HRM systems are contextualized in an “organization-as-pariah” venue. Topics covered include recruiting, career development, performance management and workforce diversity, offering readers a value-neutral, analytical assessment of the HR practices in the unconventional industry and stigmatized trade that is pornography.