Work, Organisation, Transnationalisation
In modern societies, paid work usually takes place in
organisations. Organisations not only provide workplaces but
also function as independent social structures. And they are
actors in their own right, whose behaviour impacts on and
transforms work, working conditions and labour markets as well
as economic relations in general. At the same time,
organisations are embedded in institutional structures that
regulate work and employment and shape their behaviour. We
regard organisations as both locations of strategic action and
as social structures.
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Work, Gender and Politics
FORBA's thematic research area on 'Work, Gender and Politics'
deals with the study and analysis of the contractual relations
and legal regulations in place for different forms of work and
social security. These different forms of regulation are vital
in determining the access various social groups have to the
labour market as well as to income, social services, education
and social rights. The concrete regulatory frameworks adopted
by a country for paid and unpaid labour depend on the way
social interests are organised and articulated and the way
political and social conflicts are resolved.
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Sustainable Working Life
This research area focuses on changing working
conditions. Increasingly diverse worlds of work and private
life (accompanied by an enduring inequality of circumstances)
force labour research to look beyond the immediate working
environment and extend its focus to lifestyle
patterns. Sustainability, in this context, refers to the often
difficult task of balancing external demands, available
resources and personal ambitions – within and between the
various spheres of life.
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Information system design and data protection
Information and communication systems (ICT) have led to
numerous new forms of work and work organisation, making their
design an important issue. FORBA approaches these issues from
two major perspectives: Information and communication systems
used by companies make use of personal employee data. The most
widely known of these systems include those used for Human
Resource tasks (to meet legal requirements, e.g. payroll
accounting, time management), for performance management (also
including monitoring of conduct, such as in controlling,
supply management and call centres) and for communication
(telephone, e-mail). The legal provisions of the Austrian
Labour Constitution Act (especially §96a ArbVG on Ersetzbare
Zustimmung) and Data Protection Act (§ 14 DSG 2000 on data
security) make agreements and regulations at the enterprise
level necessary to safeguard personal data. FORBA analyses
these systems and provides works councils and staff
representatives with information and strategic support
regarding the regulation of personal-data use. In addition,
analyses and suggestions for improvement are available to
companies drawing up data-protection/security guidelines.
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For an overview of all project, please go to Projects.