Balancing social and economic factors - explorative qualitative analysis of working conditions of supervisors in German social firms
Abstract Background Social firms are companies on the general labour market which provide employment to people with severe disabilities. In this setting different job resources are offered for its employees, including social support or flexibility in terms of working hours, tasks or pace of work. Ho...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12995-021-00342-y |
| _version_ | 1811187714034237440 |
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| author | Ann-Christin Kordsmeyer Ilona Efimov Julia Christine Lengen Annegret Flothow Albert Nienhaus Volker Harth Stefanie Mache |
| author_facet | Ann-Christin Kordsmeyer Ilona Efimov Julia Christine Lengen Annegret Flothow Albert Nienhaus Volker Harth Stefanie Mache |
| author_sort | Ann-Christin Kordsmeyer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Social firms are companies on the general labour market which provide employment to people with severe disabilities. In this setting different job resources are offered for its employees, including social support or flexibility in terms of working hours, tasks or pace of work. However, to date, only limited evidence exists on the work and health situation of supervisors in social firms. Therefore, the study aims to explore job demands and resources of supervisors in social firms to increase knowledge in a little researched field and to develop recommendations for action on workplace health promotion. Methods Sixteen semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with supervisors of social firms in the North of Germany within July and November 2020. Different sectors such as gastronomy or cleaning services as well as employment opportunities for people with different types of disabilities were included. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed following the qualitative content analysis according to Mayring (deductive-inductive approach). Results Overall, a heterogeneous composition was aimed for in terms of age and gender distribution (68.75% were male and between 32 and 60 years old). Supervisors reported various job demands in social firms, including for instance emotional demands, conflicts between social and economic objectives, conflict management, exposure to heat, heavy lifting or constant standing. In contrast, a high meaning of work, possibilities in shaping the structure of the social firm, social support of colleagues or the management and the provision of an ergonomic work environment were highlighted as job resources. Further person-related demands (e.g. own expectations) and resources (e.g. patience) were underlined as well. Conclusion First exploratory insights were provided with reference to job demands and resources for supervisors in social firms. The overview on working conditions underlines the significance of a supportive work environment taking structural and behavioural-related implications into account to reduce demands and strengthen resources. Further interventional research is needed regarding the development, testing and evaluation of workplace health promotion interventions in social firms. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T14:07:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-71b5eda6c3044058aea202cf80a6ba7a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1745-6673 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T14:07:01Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology |
| spelling | doaj.art-71b5eda6c3044058aea202cf80a6ba7a2022-12-22T04:19:50ZengBMCJournal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology1745-66732022-01-0117112010.1186/s12995-021-00342-yBalancing social and economic factors - explorative qualitative analysis of working conditions of supervisors in German social firmsAnn-Christin Kordsmeyer0Ilona Efimov1Julia Christine Lengen2Annegret Flothow3Albert Nienhaus4Volker Harth5Stefanie Mache6Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine (ZfAM), University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE)Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine (ZfAM), University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE)Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine (ZfAM), University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE)Department of Nutrition and Home Economics, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW Hamburg)Department for Occupational Medicine, Hazardous Substances and Health Sciences (AGG), German Social Accident Insurance for the Health and Welfare Services (BGW)Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine (ZfAM), University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE)Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine (ZfAM), University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE)Abstract Background Social firms are companies on the general labour market which provide employment to people with severe disabilities. In this setting different job resources are offered for its employees, including social support or flexibility in terms of working hours, tasks or pace of work. However, to date, only limited evidence exists on the work and health situation of supervisors in social firms. Therefore, the study aims to explore job demands and resources of supervisors in social firms to increase knowledge in a little researched field and to develop recommendations for action on workplace health promotion. Methods Sixteen semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with supervisors of social firms in the North of Germany within July and November 2020. Different sectors such as gastronomy or cleaning services as well as employment opportunities for people with different types of disabilities were included. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed following the qualitative content analysis according to Mayring (deductive-inductive approach). Results Overall, a heterogeneous composition was aimed for in terms of age and gender distribution (68.75% were male and between 32 and 60 years old). Supervisors reported various job demands in social firms, including for instance emotional demands, conflicts between social and economic objectives, conflict management, exposure to heat, heavy lifting or constant standing. In contrast, a high meaning of work, possibilities in shaping the structure of the social firm, social support of colleagues or the management and the provision of an ergonomic work environment were highlighted as job resources. Further person-related demands (e.g. own expectations) and resources (e.g. patience) were underlined as well. Conclusion First exploratory insights were provided with reference to job demands and resources for supervisors in social firms. The overview on working conditions underlines the significance of a supportive work environment taking structural and behavioural-related implications into account to reduce demands and strengthen resources. Further interventional research is needed regarding the development, testing and evaluation of workplace health promotion interventions in social firms.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12995-021-00342-yJob demandsJob resourcesLeadershipOccupational healthSocial enterprisesSocial firms |
| spellingShingle | Ann-Christin Kordsmeyer Ilona Efimov Julia Christine Lengen Annegret Flothow Albert Nienhaus Volker Harth Stefanie Mache Balancing social and economic factors - explorative qualitative analysis of working conditions of supervisors in German social firms Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology Job demands Job resources Leadership Occupational health Social enterprises Social firms |
| title | Balancing social and economic factors - explorative qualitative analysis of working conditions of supervisors in German social firms |
| title_full | Balancing social and economic factors - explorative qualitative analysis of working conditions of supervisors in German social firms |
| title_fullStr | Balancing social and economic factors - explorative qualitative analysis of working conditions of supervisors in German social firms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Balancing social and economic factors - explorative qualitative analysis of working conditions of supervisors in German social firms |
| title_short | Balancing social and economic factors - explorative qualitative analysis of working conditions of supervisors in German social firms |
| title_sort | balancing social and economic factors explorative qualitative analysis of working conditions of supervisors in german social firms |
| topic | Job demands Job resources Leadership Occupational health Social enterprises Social firms |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12995-021-00342-y |
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