Managing Human Capital in a sustainable manner

This project explores the democratic and workable content of innovation in the organization of work (IAO) at the level of the company. IAO stands for changes in tasks and responsibilities of workers in order to stimulate the performance of companies and the workability of workers. It is seen as a means to strengthen the competitive position of companies. The theory also deals with active jobs for workers. More autonomy in self-directed teams of diverse make-up is a landmark of active jobs. IAO provides information and consultation and sees to the workability of workers in theory. The ESF project organizes focus groups with union representatives of various public and private organizations. The aim is to test the theoretical concept of IAO to the reality of workers in companies. In practice, both components, democratic as well as workable work, are hard to fulfill. Although job stewards see the possibilities of more participation, involvement, respect over hierarchies, solidarity, working together in team, new tasks and opportunities for low-skilled workers, education, employment opportunities, positive impact on older workers, in reality they are confronted with a lack of transparency and clear agreements, increasing work pressure, uncertainty, no clear difference between IAO and restructuring, competition between teams, social pressure between colleagues, variable wages, problems with the situation of short-term and precarious workers, more work for less people, loss of simple jobs, higher demands for recruitment, less employment possibilities, pressure on less performing colleagues, less possibilities for disadvantaged groups. The project aims to help job stewards in recognizing an IAO initiative at the workplace, in analyzing the situation according to workers and employers interests and in strategies to strengthen the democratic, workable components with respect of diversity.

Keywords:HUMAN CAPITAL

Disciplines:Social work, Other sociology and anthropology