German unification: persistent differences between those from East and West

Abstract

A large-scale survey was conducted to assess``attitudes towards risk and safety at work'', and more general attitudes to work among vets four to five years after German unification. Clear differences were observed between the old (West) and new (East) Federal States of Germany. Stress levels were significantly higher in the new Federal States but, interestingly, the city of Berlin shared the low stress features of employees in the former West Germany. Social cohesion or working climate was generally perceived more favourably in the new Federal States. Satisfaction at work was not significantly related to job stress, and did not show such clear differences between new and old federal States. Individuals from the new federal States were more emotional in their driving styles, less risk-taking and more safety conscious than their colleagues in the older federal States. The implications of these findings are discussed.Thanks go to the bgw Hamburg (and Harmut Genz) who offered financial support for the project.

The Role of Domestic Animosity in Consumer Choice: Empirical Evidence from Germany

“…Differences in opinions (Banaszak, 1998), beliefs (Wydmusch, 2000), attitudes (Adler and Brayfield, 1996;Kirkcaldy et al, 1999), values (Borg and Braun, 1996), and cultural dimensions (Weber, 1991;Sweeney and Hardaker, 1994;Grunert et al, 1995;Howard, 1995;Emcke, 1999) established more potential sources for tensions, as did the frequent usage of the negative epithets "Ossie" (for Germans from the Neue Länder) and "Wessie" (for Germans from the Alte Länder), which are used by Eastern and Western Germans when referring to the other group, respectively (Stern, 1991;Emcke, 1999).…”

Occupational stress and working climate profiles of medical professionals and auxiliary personnel: ten years after reunification

“…26±28 For manifold reasons for elevated stress in the East German working community, and the frequently found negative relationship between occupational stress and working climate, one can assume that there would be a more negative evaluation of the work atmosphere in the new Federal States. 29 Not all studies have veri®ed this prediction. For instance, although East German executives have been able to adapt Western customs and values, they have also retained several of their former`Eastern managerial' strengths.…”

“…In a subsequent study involving a national representative sample of veterinary surgeons and their auxiliary personnel, Kirkcaldy et al 29 tried to incorporate additional variables more sensitive to geographical and socio-demographic variables as well as`attitudes towards risk and safety at work'. Clear differences were observed between the old and new Federal States of Germany.…”

Managing the Stress of Bringing the Economy in the Eastern German States to the Level of the Western German States

“…Glass (1978) argues for a close relationship between type A behavior and external locus of control. On the other hand, Kirkcaldy, Cooper, and Furnham (1999) and Kirkcaldy, Cooper, Furnham, and Brown (1993) reported minimal correlations (of the order of −0.11) between type A and locus of control. Certainly there is evidence that type A externals are characterized as deeply frustrated types, as a result of their competitive, achievement-oriented, aggressive, and frenetic nature: They believe success is beyond their control, either in the hands of fate or powerful others (cf.…”

“…Certainly there is evidence that type A externals are characterized as deeply frustrated types, as a result of their competitive, achievement-oriented, aggressive, and frenetic nature: They believe success is beyond their control, either in the hands of fate or powerful others (cf. Kirkcaldy et al, 1999). And this combination of high type A and internality appears to be typical of the East-German managers (Karasek, 1979; Semmer, 1984).…”