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For better or worse? Workplace changes and the health and well-being of Norwegian workers

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  • StÃ¥le Østhus

    (University of Oslo, Norway, stale.osthus@sosiologi.uio.no)

Abstract

Previous research has not always distinguished between downsizing and broader organizational redesign, or at least not analysed the two together, and may therefore have confounded the effects of the two on employees' health and well-being. Analyses of cross-sectional data on Norwegian employees ( N = 1944) suggest that downsizing and internal reorganization affects employees in predominantly negative ways. Neither downsizing nor internal reorganization of work are related to employees' level of task discretion. Internal reorganization is related to high work demands, job insecurity, low job satisfaction and work related health problems. Downsizing is related to high work demands and job insecurity, but the associations with job satisfaction and work related health problems are rather weak. Downsizing is more closely related to job insecurity than is reorganization, but reorganization is more closely related to high work demands, low job satisfaction and work related health problems than is downsizing.

Suggested Citation

  • StÃ¥le Østhus, 2007. "For better or worse? Workplace changes and the health and well-being of Norwegian workers," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 21(4), pages 731-750, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:21:y:2007:i:4:p:731-750
    DOI: 10.1177/0950017007082881
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Duncan Gallie & Alan Felstead & Francis Green, 2004. "Changing Patterns of Task Discretion in Britain," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 18(2), pages 243-266, June.
    2. Mari Rege & Kjetil Telle & Mark Votruba, 2009. "The Effect of Plant Downsizing on Disability Pension Utilization," Journal of the European Economic Association, MIT Press, vol. 7(4), pages 754-785, June.
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    4. Knut Røed & Elisabeth Fevang, 2007. "Organizational Change, Absenteeism, and Welfare Dependency," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 42(1).
    5. Sarah J. Freeman & Kim S. Cameron, 1993. "Organizational Downsizing: A Convergence and Reorientation Framework," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 4(1), pages 10-29, February.
    6. Dahl, Svenn-Åge & Nesheim, Torstein, 1998. "Downsizing strategies and institutional environments," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 14(3), pages 239-257, March.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Nam, Taewoo, 2019. "Technology usage, expected job sustainability, and perceived job insecurity," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 155-165.

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