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ENRICHING WORK ENVIRONMENT IN THE WELFARE SERVICE SECTOR: THE CASE OF SOCIAL ENTERPRISES IN SWEDISH CHILDCARE
Author(s) -
PESTOFF Victor,
VAMSTAD Johan
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
annals of public and cooperative economics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.526
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1467-8292
pISSN - 1370-4788
DOI - 10.1111/apce.12033
Subject(s) - work (physics) , humanities , control (management) , public sector , welfare economics , welfare , political science , business , economy , management , engineering , economics , art , mechanical engineering , law
ABSTRACT Karasak and Theorell's demand/control model for analyzing work environment posits a high degree of both demands and control for active or good working conditions, while stress occurs when demands are plentiful, but there are few possibilities of control. This article addresses a significant increase of work‐related demands for the employees of the public sector in Sweden. It also explores the potential contribution of social enterprises to enrich work environment and provide ‘good work’. The empirical data was taken from two separate studies of work environment at Swedish childcare facilities, one from 1994–95 and another from 2006–07. The article shows that work environment conditions changed radically about 20 years ago and that the effects are still apparent today. The results also show, however, that small, social enterprises continue to offer a better work environment than public facilities.