Disaggregating and reaggregating work: Workers, management and the struggle over creating coherency and purpose in a context of work degradation

McBride, Jo; Martínez Lucio, Miguel

Abstract

The article argues that whilst there is a growing sense of degradation and worsening conditions (disaggregation) of work in the cleaning sector in general, there are some important contradictions which require complex organisational responses. In the main, there is a growing sense of isolation in this work, yet also a growing perception of autonomy and workers having to use discretion in new and challenging ways. This article focuses on these issues and management responses to reaggregate the nature of such work, creating new forms of identity and activities intended to enhance (or address) the levels of stability and sustainability at work as well as in operational processes. This management conundrum means that they need to deal with a range of job‐related, skill‐oriented worker learning and also representation issues. These responses bring to the fore the contested nature of such forms of work and how they are changing.

Citation

McBride, J., & Martínez Lucio, M. (2016). Disaggregating and reaggregating work: Workers, management and the struggle over creating coherency and purpose in a context of work degradation. Human Resource Management Journal, 26(4), 490-504. https://doi.org/10.1111/1748-8583.12118

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 30, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Jun 17, 2016
• Publication Date: Nov 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Jun 19, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 2, 2018
• Journal: Human Resource Management Journal
• Print ISSN: 0954-5395
• Electronic ISSN: 1748-8583
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 26
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 490-504
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1748-8583.12118
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1356699
• Related Public URLs: https://eprints.ncl.ac.uk/211058