Employees as Individually and Collectively Acting Subjects—Key Contributions from Nordic Working Life Research

Abstract

The Nordic countries- Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden-are

Appropriation of an Activity-based Flexible Office in daily work

“…In the context of Nordic working life, researchers emphasize the voice of employees who are members of collectives sharing their ideas and aspirations and influencing the management (Hasle & Sørensen, 2013). Work environment authorities stress the importance of employee participation and involvement in systematic work environment management (Swedish Work Environment Authority, 2001).…”

Applying Principles of Sociotechnical Systems onto Working Environment Research

“…Hasle and Sørensen (2013) contrast the Nordic perspective with three other working life research traditions: human resource management research (HRM), occupational health and safety research (OHS), and labor process theory research (LPT) (Hasle & Sørensen, 2013, p. 22). HRM research builds upon the human relations movement, which is concerned with strategic management of workers' 'human needs'.…”

Commitment or Compliance? Institutional Logics of Work Environment Management

“…Another bundle of theories and practices inspired by the human relations paradigm came from the researchers at the Tavistock Institute and are known as the socio-technical systems approach (see Trist & Bamforth, 1951). They played an integral part in the development of the particular Nordic working life approach to organizational development (Hasle & Sørensen, 2013). More specifically, the human relations inspired concepts constituted the main inspiration behind the Nordic approach to working life and organizational development (Thorsrud & Emery, 1970).…”

“…More specifically, the human relations inspired concepts constituted the main inspiration behind the Nordic approach to working life and organizational development (Thorsrud & Emery, 1970). The ideas and aspirations of the Nordic approach were critical of Tayloristic workplace designs and emphasize 'workers' psychological needs that work should fulfill' (Hasle & Sørensen, 2013). These are needs that exceed basics such as economic security, just treatment, and time to rest, but include subjects such as autonomy, participation, and recognition as well (Hasle & Sørensen, 2013).…”

“…The ideas and aspirations of the Nordic approach were critical of Tayloristic workplace designs and emphasize 'workers' psychological needs that work should fulfill' (Hasle & Sørensen, 2013). These are needs that exceed basics such as economic security, just treatment, and time to rest, but include subjects such as autonomy, participation, and recognition as well (Hasle & Sørensen, 2013).…”