Globalisation, organisational culture and workplace safety : is there a connection?

Abstract: This study is an effort to find a connection between the high number of people on sick leave, the occupational health situation at the workplace, and stronger market competition and globalisation forces. The basis for the study is statistics, mainly on injuries and diseases, interviews with people in different positions with either long experience within the safety and health situation or otherwise having insight into organisations? internal situation, and a literature review. There is strong evidence that market competition and technological development forces companies to down-sizing, reorganizing, out-sourcing, relocalisations to low cost countries etc. to deal with the tougher market climate. These changes can create a high pressure on the work force in the form of higher work load and a higher tempo but also job insecurity causing stress and burn outs as consequences. The study shows that there is some support for the suggestion that the work force experience harsher work environment. An increase in sick leave over the last years can be found in 'softer factors' like organisational causes, higher tempo and work load. The internal culture is an agglomeration of attitudes, norms and values guiding the behaviour of the work force. The internal culture is to some extent reflecting the outer environment causing the organisations to navigate in harsher surroundings in order to survive. This paper builds on the combination of statistical data, case histories and literature. On the basis of the analysis I argue that there are indications of an emerging new organisational culture following the increased market economy and globalisation. This is one of many possible explanations of growing strains in the workplace and work-related sickness and poor health.