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Workplace Democracy: Why Bother?

Author

Listed:
  • Janice R. Foley

    (University of Regina)

  • Michael Polanyi

    (KAIROS, Toronto)

Abstract

North American business corporations are currently facing competitive challenges as well as rising public demand for more participative and accountable forms of governance. While they have responded to the competitive challenge by implementing new lean and .exible organizational processes to improve productivity, they have made few changes in governance, and employees continue to have little input into decisions that fundamentally affect them. This article outlines the conventional arguments for workplace democracy and proposes a new, health-based argument. The grounds for an emerging employee rights movement are then presented. The article concludes that while the evidence backing up the conventional arguments for workplace democracy may be equivocal, there are still compelling reasons, both economic and non-economic, to democratize workplaces.

Suggested Citation

  • Janice R. Foley & Michael Polanyi, 2006. "Workplace Democracy: Why Bother?," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 27(1), pages 173-191, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecoind:v:27:y:2006:i:1:p:173-191
    DOI: 10.1177/0143831X06060595
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Karasek, R. & Baker, D. & Marxer, F. & Ahlbom, A. & Theorell, T., 1981. "Job decision latitude, job demands, and cardiovascular disease: A prospective study of Swedish men," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 71(7), pages 694-705.
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    Cited by:

    1. Benjamin Hopkins, 2017. "Occupational health and safety of temporary and agency workers," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 38(4), pages 609-628, November.
    2. Andrew Timming & Juliette Summers, 2020. "Is workplace democracy associated with wider pro-democracy affect? A structural equation model," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 41(3), pages 709-726, August.

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