Indian Journal of Industrial Relations: Economics & Social Dev.

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Employee Participation on Work Environment in Food Processing Industry in Denmark & New Zealand


Affiliations
1 NZ Work & Labour Market Institute, Auckland University of Technology
2 Aalborg University
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


This article examines both direct and representative participation by employees. The hypothesis is that effectiveness of employee participation correlates positively with work environment quality. Comparison between Denmark and New Zealand (NZ) might be instructive since the representative participative practices are greater and longer in theformer. Food processing industry is critical to both the countries in terms of employment and export income. The qualitative and quantitative data for the two food processing plants case studies in each country was collected from relevant documents; three to six interviews in each plant including human resource managers, other senior mangers and employee representatives; and a questionnaire survey of a random sample of employees from each plant.
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Arthur, J. B. (1994), "Effects of Human Resource Systems on Manufacturing Performance and Turnover". Academy of Management Journal, 37(3): 670-87.

  • Bohle, P. & Quinlan, M. (2000), Managing Occupational Health and Safety: A Multidisciplinary Approach, Melbourne: Macmillan Publishing Australia.

  • P. Boxall, P. Haynes & K. Macky (2007), "Employee Voice and Voicelessness in New Zealand", in R. Freeman, P. Boxall & P. Haynes (eds), What Workers Say. Employee Voice in the Anglo-American Workplace, Cornell University Press, Ithaca NY:. 145-65.

  • P. Boxall, K. Macky & E. Rasmussen (2003), "Labour Turnover & Retention in NZ: The Causes and Consequences of Leaving and Staying with Employers", Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, 41(2):195- 214.

  • Delaney, J. T., & Huselid, M. A. (1996), "The Impact of Human Resource Management Practices on Perceptions of Organizational Performance", Academy of Management Journal, 39(4): 949-69.

  • Doucouliagos, C. (1995), "Worker Participation and Productivity in Labor-Managed and Participatory Capitalist Firms: A Meta- Analysis", Industrial and Labor Relations Review, 49(1): 58-77.

  • Fairbrother, P. (1996), "Organize and Survive: Unions and Health and Safety - A Case Study of an Engineering Unionized Workforce", Employee Relations, 18(2): 5 - 88.

  • Feinberg-Danielli, G. & Lafferty, G. (2007), "Unions and Union Membership in New Zealand: Annual Review for 2005", New Zealand Journal of Employment Relations, 32(3): 31-39.

  • Festeriing, P. (2008), "Value Added in Danish Food Processing Industries", Food Economics Acta Agricult Scand C, 5: 24-43.

  • Fodevarelndustrien (Danish Food & Drink Federation) (2007), Sixth Framework

  • Programme (2002-2006). National Assessment Report Denmark. Accessed 16 February 2010 at smes_net.ciaa.eul ... I Denmark%20N ational %20Assessmen t %20Rpf. pdf.

  • Food & Beverage Taskforce (2006), Food and Beverage Sector Engagement Strategy, 2005-2006, Wellington: NZ Trade and Enterprise.

  • P. Harris (2004), "From Health & Safety to Employee Participation? The Impact of the NZ Health & Safety in Employment Amendment Act (2002)", International Employment Relations Review, 10(1): 1-12.

  • Katz, H. c., Kochan, T. A., & Weber, M. R. (1985), "Assessing the Effects ofIndustrial Relations Systems and Efforts to Improve the Quality of Working Life on Organizational Effectiveness", Academy of Management Journal, 28(3): 509-26.

  • Knudsen, H. (1995), Employee Participation in Europe, Sage, London.

  • Knudsen, H. Busck, O. & Lind, J. (2009), Medarbej derdeltagelsens betydning for a rbejd smi lj aets kvalitet. Rapport fra Medea-projektet. Skriftserien 9. Institut for Samfundsudvikling og Pl an l a-gn ing , Aalborg Universitet.

  • Kopelman, R. E., Brief, A. P., & Guzzo, R. A. (1990), "The Role of Climate and Culture in Productivity", In B.Schneider (Ed.), Organizational Climate and Culture, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers.

  • Lind, J. (2009), "The End of the Ghent System as Trade Union Recruitment Machinery?", Industrial Relations Journal, 40 (6): 510- 23.

  • Markey, R. (2001). "Introduction: Global Patterns of Participation", In R. Markey, P. Gollan, A. Hodgkinson, A. Ch o uraqu i, & U. Veersma (Eds.), Models of Employee Participation in a Changing Environment: Diversity and Interaction, Aldershot: Ashgate.

  • Meyer, J., & Topolnytsky, L. (2000), "Building and Maintaining Employee Commitment: Implications for HRM Policy and Practice", In A. Travaglione & V. Marshall (Eds.), Human Resource Strategies: An Applied Approach. Sydney: McGraw-Hill.

  • MIA/DOL Meat Industry Association & Department of Labour (2009), Meat Working. A New Zealand Meat Industry Labour Market and Skills Plan, Welliungton: Department of Labour.

  • Oxenburgh, M., Marlow, P., & Oxenburgh, A. (2004), Increasing Productivity and Profit through Health and Safety. The Financial Returns from a Safe Working Environment. (2nd ed.), Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.

  • Price, M., Clark, M & Lee, H. (2010), The 2009 New Zealand Staff Turnover Survey, Auckland: ES Online (Executive Search).

  • Quinlan, M., Mayhew, C. & Bohle, P. (2001), "The Global Expansion of Precarious Employment, Work Disorganisation and Occupational Health: A Review of Recent Research", International Journal of Health Services, 31(2):335-414.

  • P. Saksvik & M. Quinlan (2003), "Regulating Systematic Occupational Health and Safety Management: Comparing the Norwegian and Australian Experience", Relations Industrielles; 58(1): 33-56.

  • Theriou, G. N., & Chatzoglou, P. D. (2008), "Enhancing Performance through Best HRM Practices, Organizational Learning and Knowledge Management. A Conceptual Framework", European Business Review, 20(3): 185-207.

  • Visser, J. (compilation) (2009), The ICTWSS Database: Database on Institutional Characteristics of Trade Unions, Wage Setting, State Intervention and Social Pacts AlAS, University of Amsterdam: Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Labour Studies.

  • Walters, D. (2004), "Workplace Arrangements for Worker Participation in OHS", In E. Bluff, N. Gunningham & R. Johnstone (Eds), OHS Regulation for a Changing World of Work, Sydney: Federation Press.

  • Walters, D., Nichols, T., Connor, J., Tasiran, A. & Cam, S. (2005), The Role and Effectiveness of Safety Representatives in Influencing Workplace Health and Safety, Research Report 363. London: UK Health and Safety Executive.

  • Wright, P. M., Gardner, T. M., Moynihan, L. M., & Allen, M. R. (2005), "The Relationship between HR Practices and Firm Performance: Examining Causal Order", Personnel Psychology, 58, 409-46.


Abstract Views: 206

PDF Views: 2




  • Employee Participation on Work Environment in Food Processing Industry in Denmark & New Zealand

Abstract Views: 206  |  PDF Views: 2

Authors

Raymond Markey
NZ Work & Labour Market Institute, Auckland University of Technology
Candice Harris
NZ Work & Labour Market Institute, Auckland University of Technology
Jens Lind
Aalborg University
Ole Busck
Aalborg University
Herman Knudsen
Aalborg University

Abstract


This article examines both direct and representative participation by employees. The hypothesis is that effectiveness of employee participation correlates positively with work environment quality. Comparison between Denmark and New Zealand (NZ) might be instructive since the representative participative practices are greater and longer in theformer. Food processing industry is critical to both the countries in terms of employment and export income. The qualitative and quantitative data for the two food processing plants case studies in each country was collected from relevant documents; three to six interviews in each plant including human resource managers, other senior mangers and employee representatives; and a questionnaire survey of a random sample of employees from each plant.

References