Trade unions possess unique knowledge of how organisations really work. They are repositories of experience embracing many different situations and stretching over many years. Yet this experience and understanding is often an underused resource in workplaces.
This virtual special issue brings together a number of key articles published in Human Relations that focus on the quality of working life.
As demonstrated in the third and fourth European Company Surveys, workplace innovation cases in Central and Eastern Europe were less substantial compared to Continental and Western Europe countries.
In addition to adequate remuneration, people also look for their contribution to the company, opportunities to demonstrate their capabilities, grow professionally and see their efforts recognised.
Employee owned businesses generate higher levels of productivity by empowering staff to take decisions and feel valued to do so.
EUWIN’s 13 partners' opinion paper argues that workplace innovation offers a comprehensive approach to creating the fair working conditions mentioned in the Pillar of Social Rights, launched in 2017 by the European Commission (EC).
Human-machine collaboration is sometimes considered as the face of digital Taylorism, with workers becoming brainless zombies what, how and when to perform by their technological masters.
Is it true that a discontented worker is a discontented citizen? Does job quality make a difference in terms of participation in the neighbourhood and in politics? Well, looking at recent research the answer to both questions is “yes”.
Should countries invest in programmes that support Workplace Innovation in firms? The short answer is yes.
Excellence is not something you achieve once and forever. It is something to be pursued and maintained to the highest standards in a society which evolves and changes very quickly.