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Suffering at Work: A Challenge for Corporate Sustainability in the Spanish Context

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  • Eduardo Gismera

    (Ethics and Sustainability Department, Economics Faculty, Pontificia Comillas University, 28010 Madrid, Spain)

  • José Luis Fernández

    (Ethics and Sustainability Department, Economics Faculty, Pontificia Comillas University, 28010 Madrid, Spain)

  • Jesús Labrador

    (Ethics and Sustainability Department, Economics Faculty, Pontificia Comillas University, 28010 Madrid, Spain)

  • Laura Gismera

    (Ethics and Sustainability Department, Economics Faculty, Pontificia Comillas University, 28010 Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that world leaders committed to fulfilling by the year 2030 include the protection of labor rights and the promotion of a safe and decent workplace under acceptable health and well-being conditions. The private sector has a critical role in achieving these goals. There are many very good practices in modern organizations to prevent and avoid pain and suffering among workers, but there is another challenge that has guided this research: What happens when the suffering has already occurred? The objective of this research is to explore how the private sector organizations in Spain deal with their workers’ suffering. This study used discourse analysis, extracted from eight in-depth interviews with human resources managers, as well as a discussion group of twelve leaders from various national and multinational companies. It has been found that there is a clear awareness of the existence of suffering in their organizations, but there is also a general reluctance to confront it and address it.

Suggested Citation

  • Eduardo Gismera & José Luis Fernández & Jesús Labrador & Laura Gismera, 2019. "Suffering at Work: A Challenge for Corporate Sustainability in the Spanish Context," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-18, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:15:p:4152-:d:253715
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Thaís Vieira Nunhes & Merce Bernardo & Otávio José de Oliveira, 2020. "Rethinking the Way of Doing Business: A Reframe of Management Structures for Developing Corporate Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-32, February.

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