Work and Wellbeing in the Nordic Countries: Critical Perspectives on the World's Best Working Lives

The Nordic countries have the world's best working life. Unlike in many other countries, global competition has not created inequality, uncertainty, long working hours, standardization and restrictive managerial control. The main reason for this lies in the way interests are expressed and conflicts are resolved. Both employees and employers are well organized and both recognize the interests of the other. Working life develops in a constant interaction between conflict and compromise.

This book examines working conditions in Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland. It explores how these good working conditions are created and maintained. The chapters explain:

• How work organization is formed
• How education, training and work place learning give access to the labour market
• How work is managed in the public sector
• How precarious work unfolds in the Nordic countries.

Work and Wellbeing in the Nordic Countries is addressed to all those who have interest in the quality of working life. It will be of particular use to all students, academics and policy makers working in the fields of social policy, wellbeing, management studies, employment relations, work sociology and work psychology.

Helge Hvid is a professor at Roskilde University of Working Life Studies, Denmark. He has a PhD in Sociology from Copenhagen University. He has published extensively in working life issues such as psychosocial working environment, work organization, IT and work, rhythms of work and sustainable work.

Eivind Falkum is research professor at the University OsloMet. He holds a Dr. Philos grade within Political Science at the University of Oslo, with his thesis on power and opposition in the Norwegian working life. He has broad experience from organization and management studies in several empirical fields at different institutes of assignment research.