The quest of well-being in growth industries: a comparative study in Finland and Scotland

This project is part of The Future of Work and Well-being co-operation between the Academy of Finland and ESRC (UK). The 30 month comparative Project will be conducted in Finland, Dept of Management and Organisation, Hanken, and Scotland led by Glasgow Caledonian University. The overall aim is to evaluate the development, implementation and use of work-related well-being policies in 4 selected growth industries: electronics, care, finance and accounting, and tourism. These are selected on the basis of EU and national forecasts and demographic and socio-economic trends in standard and non-standard employment. The Project examines the contradictory pressures for policies and practices towards both the inhibition and the enhancement of work-related well-being that are likely in growth industries. In summary the Project will: - provide a systematic mapping and situational analysis of work-related legislation and policies of well-being in Finland and Scotland. Method: critical review of relevant documentary, policy, published literature and nonpublished material. Months: 1 to 3; - identify which policies on well-being are in place, being used, monitored and evaluated, in the 4 growth sectors. Method: survey to achieve 100 completed responses in each country with companies contacted drawn through a quota sampling frame. Months: 4 to 8; - examine the interactions between work-related well-being policies, practices and cultures. Method: 'portraits of practice' approach (inc. interviews, field notes, documentary analysis of policies in selected companies). Work on objectives 3-6 during months 9-21; - identify opportunities and barriers to the development of well-being policies and practices both formally and informally in the selected industries. Method: 'portraits of practice' approach. Dissemination focus groups (objectives 4-6) in each country in months 22-24; - examine how gender and other forms of social differentiation, inc. non-standard and standard employment, affect competitive advantage and well-being. Method: 'portraits of practice' approach drawing on policy analysis, interviews, and dissemination focus groups; - examine how transnational processes and structures affect the operation of growth industries and work-related wellbeing policies. Method: 'portraits of practice' (as above). Outcomes will include: - Recommendations on work-related well-being policies. - Publications: book, articles in international/national refereed journals, professional journals, newsletters and a briefing paper. - Policy-focused symposium organised in each country. - Presentations at business, academic and policy conferences. - Postdoctoral international researcher exchange and joint working.