Decent Work: A Psychological Perspective

Abstract

This contribution, which serves as the lead article for the Research Topic entitled “From Meaning of Working to Meaningful Lives: The Challenges of Expanding Decent Work,” explores current challenges in the development and operationalization of decent work. Based on an initiative from the International Labor Organization [ILO] (1999) decent work represents an aspirational statement about the quality of work that should be available to all people who seek to work around the globe. Within recent years, several critiques have been raised about decent work from various disciplines, highlighting concerns about a retreat from the social justice ethos that had initially defined the concept. In addition, other scholars have observed that decent work has not included a focus on the role of meaning and purpose at work. To address these concerns, we propose that a psychological perspective can help to revitalize the decent work agenda by infusing a more specific focus on individual experiences and by reconnecting decent work to its social justice origins. As an illustration of the advantages of a psychological perspective, we explore the rise of precarious work and also connect the decent work agenda to the Psychology-of-Working Framework and Theory (Blustein, 2006; Duffy et al., 2016).

Job Loss in a Group of Older Canadian Workers: Challenges in the Sustainable Labour Market Reintegration Process

“…It would be helpful to help people develop their personal and professional enrichment strategies (e.g., [3,37,38,40,41,124]). It would likewise seem important to develop interventions that take into account the priorities and living context of unemployed older workers, what they expect regarding work, and how they conceive their future in the labour market.…”

“…These results contribute at the same time to enhancing our comprehension of the deleterious consequences, for workers 45 and over, of not being able to reposition themselves in the labour market. That is to say, to meet not only minimal standards in terms of working conditions (e.g., safety, social advantages) but also to satisfy their aspirations for a decent job and a career that promotes effective and sustainable well-being (e.g., [2,3,[37][38][39][41][42][43][44]). …”

Unemployment From the Perspective of the Psychology of Working

“…Thus, the present findings provide the first support for the PWT in a cultural context different to its original. Blustein (2013) and others (Blustein, Olle, Connors-Kellgren, & Diamonti, 2016) argue that decent work (International Labour Office, 2015) is a human right. Indeed, the latent and manifest benefits of employment (Hoare & Machin, 2010;Jahoda, 1982) and working are a source of mental health and wellbeing (Blustein, 2008;Modini et al, 2016).…”

Cultura de conciliación y conflicto trabajo/familia en trabajadores con turnos laborales

“…A lo largo de las últimas tres décadas la investigación sobre la relación trabajo-familia ha aumentado de manera considerable, lo que significa que ha sido objeto de una gran atención por parte de las instituciones políticas, las organizaciones, los sindicatos, las familias y los individuos, preocupados por mejorar las condiciones de trabajo de las personas (Blustein, Olle, Connors-Kellgren y Diamonti, 2016;Pichler, 2009). …”

“…Over the last three decades, research on work-family relationship has increased considerably, which means that it has been object of great attention from political institutions, organisations, trade unions, families and individuals concerned by improving people's working conditions (Blustein, Olle, Connors-Kellgren, & Diamonti, 2016;Pichler, 2009). …”