Work Environment — Nordic Labour Journal

Anniken Hauglie at the Nordic council of ministers - changing focus on working environments

(Dec 11, 2017) A changing labour market means new demands and challenges for the labour market's parties, politicians and society as a whole. This formed the backdrop when Anniken Hauglie hosted a conversation during the Nordic labour ministers' meeting in Oslo recently. The opening theme was how working environments influence productivity.

Norwegian barometer highlights importance of collective decision-making

(Dec 06, 2017) Changes and reorganisations are far less conflict-prone if employees both participate in and have influence over the process. Yet the trend is increasingly moving towards more authoritarian management models where standardisation and control are the most important factors. These are some of the results from this year’s barometer on collective decision-making in Norway.

Risk-based inspections on the wrong track?

(Dec 05, 2017) Nordic labour inspection authorities still have some way to go to perfect their methods for identifying businesses for inspection. But critics who imply that these authorities lack the will to seek out risk, are off target.

Why working life is key

(Oct 23, 2017) The thinking surrounding the working environment is changing. Demands for new knowledge and increased productivity, an ageing population and not least the unfathomable costs of a bad working environment are all factors that call for fresh thinking. What works? Paying your way out of the problems, or putting work’s content centre stage? And what happens in the new labour market which is now emerging?

Workplaces must take the ageing workforce into account

(Oct 23, 2017) When the workforce ages, workplaces face new challenges. This is particularly true for occupations where physical work makes up nearly all of the working day, according to Maria Albin, the keynote speaker at a European high-level conference on the working environment to be held in Bilbao in November.

From soot to sun – the long fight against occupational disease

(Oct 23, 2017) Has the 250 years’ fight against occupational disease come to its end? Today’s risk factors are not soot, radon or asbestos, says the EU work safety agency. The top risk, is in fact ordinary sunlight.

Pål Molander: The Nordic region must not forget the importance of a good working environment

(Oct 23, 2017) A good working environment is good for business, says Pål Molander, Director General at the National Institute of Occupational Health. What is more: The Nordic countries have successfully adapted the working environment in the face of a changing labour market. The working environment has been a strength in the past, and must remain so in the future, he says.

A good working environment – the Nordic region’s strength

(Oct 23, 2017) Nordic countries have long worked for a good working environment. But every era has it's own challenges. Sunshine has replaced soot as the working environment threat that affect the most workers . As populations age, the labour market must adapt to older workers. The working environment has been the Nordic region’s strength. It must continue to be so.

New roads leading to healthy workplaces

(Apr 07, 2017) The Nordic countries want to be best internationally, and consider healthy workplaces to be a great competitive advantage in a global market place. But, as Nordic researchers warn: “a good working environment is not the icing on the cake, but the pointers you apply in the course of the process”. In this month’s Theme, the Nordic Labour Journal looks at the pointers the different countries have been applying.

Nordic working environment authorities with different views on social dumping

(Apr 06, 2017) Nordic countries must make comprehensive changes to their working environment policies in the face of new ways of working and more posted workers from the EU. Everyone seems to agree that working environment issues are getting increasingly important, yet there are major differences in how the different countries handle the challenges – not least when it comes to social dumping.