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Well-Being at Work with Limited Resources: A Public Sector Context

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Well-Being in the Workplace: Governance and Sustainability Insights to Promote Workplace Health

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Abstract

This chapter critically examines the reactions of managerial and non-managerial employees’ to HRM practices, working life, and well-being initiatives in local government. The implication of these experiences in a time of restricted resources is the central focus. The methodological approach is a case study that draws from an Interpretivism paradigm of hermeneutic phenomenology using mixed methods. The qualitative approach adopted was from a review of company documents, observation field notes, and semi-structured interviews, which provided rich empirical in-depth data that uncovered the understanding and meanings of employees’ lived experiences. The study revealed that the local government organisational practices and observations made were aligned to a NPM environment that is subjected to changing structures. Although the organisation was committed to the adoption of ‘best practice’ HRM and well-being initiatives geared towards promoting employee well-being, there was a discrepancy between the intended effects of policy initiatives and working experiences.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    £10,001–£20,000 = 6 respondents; £20,001–£30,000 = 9 respondents; £30,001–£40,000 = 5 respondents; £40,001–£50,000 = 4 respondents; £50,001–£60,000 = 1 respondent.

  2. 2.

    Less than 5 years (11 respondents); 6–10 years (6 respondents); 11–15 years (3 respondents); 16–20 years (4 respondents) and 21–25 years (3 respondents).

  3. 3.

    Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999; Provision or use of work equipment regulations 1998; Manual handling operations regulations 1992; Personal protective equipment at work regulations 1992; Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992; The work at height regulations 2005; heat stress in the workplace; preventing slips and trips at work; workplace transport safety etc. (HSE 2007).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. My Work & Well-Being Consulting Inc.,, Prince George, BC, Canada

    Nicole Cvenkel

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  1. Nicole Cvenkel
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Correspondence to Nicole Cvenkel .

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Cvenkel, N. (2020). Well-Being at Work with Limited Resources: A Public Sector Context. In: Well-Being in the Workplace: Governance and Sustainability Insights to Promote Workplace Health . Approaches to Global Sustainability, Markets, and Governance. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3619-9_10

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