Personnel and human resources Books

Book SynopsisEmployment relations in advanced, post-industrial democracies have become increasingly insecure and uncertain as the risks associated with work are being shifted from employers and governments to workers. Arne L. Kalleberg examines the impact of the liberalization of labor markets and welfare systems on the growth of precarious work and job insecurity for indicators of well-being such as economic insecurity, the transition to adulthood, family formation, and happiness, in six advanced capitalist democracies: the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Spain, and Denmark. This insightful cross-national analysis demonstrates how active labor market policies and generous social welfare systems can help to protect workers and give employers latitude as they seek to adapt to the rise of national and global competition and the rapidity of sweeping technological changes. Such policies thereby form elements of a new social contract that offers the potential for addressing many of the major challenges resulting from the rise of precarious work.Trade Review"This book addresses one of the most pressing issues of the day: how precarious work is leading to precarious lives. By drawing on experiences in six diverse countries, it provides a potentially optimistic agenda for policy to halt or reverse the damage. In calling not only for wider social protection for all engaged in all forms of work but also for action, supported by worker organization, to change employer practices and stem the growth of precarious work, Kalleberg offers a useful alternative policy framework to the ultimately defeatist basic income approach where regulation of employers and of work itself is downgraded."—Jill Rubery, The University of Manchester "This latest book by Arne Kalleberg offers a powerful conception of precarity, how it takes distinct forms under different employment regimes, and – most important perhaps — how the rise of precarious work has reached deep into the private realm, threatening the well-being and family lives of workers. Sure to become a classic in the field."—Steven Peter Vallas, Northeastern University "Precarious work is by construction a relative concept (precarious compared to some standard), and Precarious Lives is a model and a guide of how to think about this concept across countries, which in turn helps us to use it more analytically in any one country. Kalleberg's analysis shines [and] I am convinced that Precarious Lives should become, and will become, the leading monographic analysis of precarious work."—Chris Tilly, ILR Review "In many ways, this book is vintage Kalleberg [...]. Using national-level statistics, Kalleberg carefully unpacks the complexity of precarious work and lives."—Ching Kwan Lee, American Journal of Sociology "From the doyen of precarious work research comes this comprehensive volume comparing the prevalence and consequences of job insecurity in six affluent democracies. [...]. The book is thorough, systematic and clear. Wherever prior research is dense or contradictory, Kalleberg is there to provide us a path through the thicket."—Allison Pugh, Social Forces "[I]nformative and thought-provoking [...]. This book makes a valuable contribution to the literature on employment relationships."—Relations industriellesTable of ContentsList of figures Acknowledgements Introduction Part I. Theoretical Foundations 1. The New Age of Precarious Work 2. Social Welfare Protection and Labor Market Institutions Part II. Manifestations of Precarious Work 3. Nonstandard Employment Relations 4. Job Insecurity Part III. Dimensions of Well-Being 5. Economic Insecurity 6. Transition to Adulthood and Family Formation 7. Subjective Well-Being Part IV. Responses to Precarious Work and Lives 8. Politics and Policies of Precarious Work Conclusion Notes References

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Book SynopsisAiming to create professional environments where differences are valued and people from divergent backgrounds can work productively together, this examination is designed to help create humane, prosperous, and productive organizations. Ideal for CEOs in the executive suite as well as supervisors on the shop floor, this guide combines systemic, strategic-level possibilities with a continuous array of both practical and tactical charts, tools, grids, assessments, models, and checklists, guaranteed to provide managers of all types with the tools they need to create a positive atmosphere. Suggestions, questions, and considerations regarding the steps an organization can take regarding culture change are featured throughout, making this the quintessential resource for those charged with the task of diversity implementation from start to finish.Trade ReviewIt's a gold mine! I was excited to see that it truly is a complete desk reference. This book addresses every aspect of workplace diversity issues, from the individual, group, and organizational perspectives." — Jeanne Hartley, manager, training and development, Los Angeles Times"Well-written, comprehensive, user-friendly, sensitive, and a must-read and library addition for all those whose mission includes workforce diversity issues." — Jeffrey N. Wallace, director, workforce diversity, and EEO, Sony Pictures Entertainment"An outstanding, usable reference book loaded with answers on 'what to do' and 'how to do it' in managing our diverse workforce." — David W. Jamieson, PhD, president, Jamieson Consulting Group, and coauthor, Managing Workforce 2000 and Gaining the Diversity Advantage"My ‘go to’ resource for inclusion work. From understanding the role diversity plays in a global business context to providing practical tools to measure diversity initiatives, Managing Diversity is a reference book every diversity practitioner should have." — Joy Errico, director, diversity and inclusion, Staples, Inc."A staple on my book shelf and I have turned to it again and again for data collection, design ideas, and reference materials. Highly recommended!!!" — Joy Hawkins, principal consultant, Joy Hawkins & Associates"I can pick up the Managing Diversity desk reference and immediately generate ideas and find potential exercises to address a variety of complex inter-cultural situations. The adaptability of the exercises and tools on the CD-ROM make it possible to craft a customized intervention where the participants see the relevancy to their work. The book is one stop shopping for success!” — Jayna Johnson, facilitation and instructional design, International Humanitarian Organisation"This is an excellent, useful and very ‘user-friendly’ reference—the best in the field as far as I am concerned." — Baraz Samiian, EdD, organization effectiveness consultant, B. Samiian Associates

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Book Synopsis

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