Efeitos da flexibilização das relações de trabalho na qualidade de vida no trabalho : o caso da região metropolitana de Curitiba

• Autor(a) principal: Rocha, Maria Cristina de Souza
• Data de Publicação: 2002
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional do FGV (FGV Repositório Digital)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10438/3837
• topic: Políticas & Estratégias; Administração de empresas; Mercado de trabalho - Estudo de casos

Intense economic competition and a profound technological revolution have imposed on contemporary companies significant changes in the organization of production. This has lead to the manifestation of a number of contradictions. On the one hand, the importance of worker participation as a decisive factor in the construction of competitive advantage is advanced. One of the main requirements for a successful organisation is the implementation of working models that create new knowledge. This new knowledge then needs to be disseminated widely through the whole organization and rapidly incorporated into new technologies and products. On the other hand, also in the search for higher leveis of competitiveness, flexible practices in work relations have been adopted as a way of cutting costs through the reduction of workers' rights. In Brazil there has been a move to more flexible working practices since 1965, culminating in a BiII before Congress that will alter labour law in favour of negotiation between employers and employees. This will be a move away from the present situation of reliance solely upon legislation. In this context, the objective of this research is to verify the effects of this move towards flexible labour relations on the quality of life within the workplace. It refers specifically to knowledge management and the social needs of workers, Le. workers' benefits both legislated for and extra benefits awarded by the company. Research was carried out as a field study with representatives of Personnel Departments and workers from companies with more than 500 employees in the Metropolitan Area of Curitiba, Paraná. The method used to analyse the data allows for the measurement of qualitative variables. Comparison of workers in orgnazations with flexible practices and other workers with more restrictive practices has also been carried out. The data, collected through questionnaires, revealed that there is a tendency for companies to pre-empt future legislation by implementing more flexible practices today. The effects of these practices have lead to workers with flexible work contracts being disadvantaged in terms of education within the organization and also in the satisfaction of their social needs. In the comparative analysis between the two categories it has been possible to identify four significant differences. The first is in the participation in the production processo In addition to this, access to training was more difficult in organizations with more flexible practices. Thirdly, leveis of benefits, both statutory and negotiated, varied. Finally, in companies with greater flexibility a lower satisfaction with the workplace environment was expressed. The findings allow the conclusion to be drawn that companies that pursue higher competitive leveis to improve economic and production development, while at the same time discounting workplace quality of life issues, are inherently mistaken.