Ann Bergman

Employee availability for work and family: three Swedish case studies

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to explore the concept of availability, both empirically and theoretically, in the context of three Swedish organisations, and identifies the structural influences on availability patterns for work and family.Design/methodology/approach – The article is based on quantitative case studies using employer records and an employee questionnaire in three organisations. Multivariate descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression are used to illustrate and analyse patterns of availability for work and family.Findings – The descriptive data demonstrate the influence of the organisational context and type of production process, as well as gender, on availability patterns. Patterns of work availability appeared to differ across the organisations to a greater extent than patterns of family availability, which were highly gendered. The logistic regression results indicated that: occupation was a significant influence on both temporal and spatial availability patter...

Contingent work in the UK and Sweden: evidence from the construction industry

This article explores the use of contingent forms of employment in two diverse country contexts—the UK and Sweden—and investigates the influence of changing regulatory and economic conditions over ...

Equal Opportunities, Segregation and Gender-Based Wage Differences: The Case of a Swedish University

There are considerable numbers of studies showing that women and men in Sweden work in different sectors and in different occupations; also that men to a greater extent than women work in higher hierarchical positions. Not only are segregation patterns persistent, but wage differences as well. Even though the wage gap between men and women in Sweden has decreased, it still persists. The article starts with a discussion of the framework for wage setting and more specifically regulations aiming at eliminating gendered wage differences at a more general level. Then we turn to a specific case study where we describe methods and data used. This is followed by two empirical sections, where the first is a quantitative description of segregation and wage patterns found between the two occupations in question. The second part is based on qualitative data and presents and analyses the wage formation process as experienced by these two groups. The article gives an illustration of both how decentralized wage negotiations and individualization of wage work for the higher educated employees and it also presents an aspect of the formation of gendered wage differences.

Gender, availability and dual emancipation in the Swedish ICT sector

Set in the context of the Swedish state’s agenda of dual emancipation for women and men, the article shows how a global ICT consultancy company’s formal gender equality goal is undermined by competing demands. Employing the concept of availability, in preference to work–life balance, the research found women opted out of roles requiring high degrees of spatial and temporal availability for work, in favour of roles more easily combined with family responsibilities. Such choices led to poor career development, plus the loss of technological expertise and confidence. These outcomes were at odds with the company’s gender equality aims, as well as government objectives to make it easier for women and men to combine work and family, and increase the number of women within ICT.

Equal Opportunity and Unwarranted Pay Differences. A Case Study of Gender-Related Pay Differences in a Knowledge-based Society

Equal opportunity and unwarranted pay differences : a case study of gender-related pay differences in a knowledge based society

Book review symposium: Åke Sandberg (ed.), Nordic Lights: Work, Management and Welfare in Scandinavia

Book review symposium: Ake Sandberg (ed.), Nordic Lights: Work, Management and Welfare in Scandinavia