New Forms of Employment: Managerial Policies and Employee Interests

Changes in forms of work were investigated by a 1980 study of 9 West German firms: 17 new & 9 traditionally organized work processes were examined; 251 upper & middle managers & works council members were interviewed; 373 workers were interviewed individually, & an additional 101 in group discussions. It was found that, while managerial objectives in introducing the new work forms (eg, individualized work & modified assembly line work) were directed toward higher productivity levels, the application of their strategies tended to jeopardize the humanization of work as well as its expected achievements. From the workers' point of view, the new forms of work are ambivalent & deficient in terms of the working conditions that result. Works councils -- which represent the collective interests of workers on the shop floor -- are rarely involved in the changes. Modified HA.