Time for change: Can empowerment be a solution to meet the perils of modern day working life?

Issue title: Sweden

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Millet, Patrick | Sandberg, Karl W.

Affiliations: National Institute for Working Life, Östersund, Sweden

Note: [] Address for correspondence: Patrick Millet, National Institute for Working Life, Pedagogens väg 4, 83140 Östersund, Sweden. Tel.: +46 63 551309; Fax: +46 63 55 13 20; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: Working life continues to undergo rapid change. This change creates greater demand and sophistication and causes employees to experience more pressure, professionally and personally. Thus, absences from work due to sickness and injuries increase. In Sweden, this problem has become serious. This article argues that psychological empowerment and individual control are two key factors that minimize the many perils faced by the modern worker and those seeking to return to the work force through the vocational rehabilitation process. The findings show that a shift in ideology is needed. Specifically, there must be a shift from scientific management and Weberian bureaucracy towards organizational structures, routines, and cultures that support and increase individual worker psychological empowerment and control.

Keywords: psychological empowerment, control, working life, ill health, organizational shift, vocational rehabilitation

Journal: Work, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 291-295, 2005