Here you find all the streams at the WORK2021 conference. By clicking the “+” icon you will be able to read the description of the stream and the information of the chairpersons. Minor changes are possible.
WORK I
AGEING WORKFORCE –CONTEMPORARY RESEARCH IN THE POST-PANDEMIC ERA
Chairs: PhD (Econ.), Associate Professor, Academy Research Fellow Monika E. von Bonsdorff, University of Jyväskylä, PhD, Associate Professor Mikaela B. von Bonsdorff, University of Jyväskylä, FI
The Covid-19 has brought crisis to employment situations and to working life in so many ways. Along the previously unforeseen questions the pandemic has forced us to meet, the questions posed to the workforce relate to the return work after the pandemic, for example. While the studies currently analyze the different facets of the post-pandemic working life and employment patterns, this stream calls forward research and presentations addressing these questions especially in relation to ageing workforce. To explore the relationship between employee well-being, age and questions of career, or for example, early-retirement intentions, and the extent to which any career change or transformation intentions are associated with the pandemic are of interest of this stream. The papers are also invited but not restricted to explore the questions of how to return to work after the pandemic, and how to continue the work careers in the post-pandemic era. Papers exploring more generally the theme of the conference are welcomed.
DIGITAL (IN)VISIBILITY, TRANSPARENCY AND FAIRNESS AT WORK
Chairs: Senior Researcher Laura Seppänen & PhD, Docent, Research professor Tuomo Alasoini, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, FI
The changing visibility and transparency, when examined in the social and institutional contexts of work, are closely linked with questions of fairness. They can be beneficial, but also include tradeoffs and negative outcomes. Questions of ethics and accountability are key to those who design, use or regulate digital tools, algorithms or platforms at work. Exploring the varying ways in which people’s participation in activities are digitized and made visible is key to understanding whose voice is included or excluded in organizational dynamics. This stream aims at enhancing discussion about the processes, outcomes and consequences of digital (in)visibility and transparency. Special attention is paid to the fairness outcomes in relation to (in)visibility and transparency. How do workers and enterprises deal with ethical concerns and divides in relation to digital transparency/ invisibility? The stream invites presentations of a wide range of phenomena around digital transparency, (in)visibility and fairness in work and working life. Both empirical case studies and theoretical insights are welcomed. Papers exploring more generally the theme of the conference are welcomed.
DIGITALIZATION AND ROBOTICS IN WORKING LIFE
Chairs: Assistant Professor, Software Engineering Dr. Tuomas Mäkilä
Digitalization and robotics mean changes in the ways work gets organized. The challenges that relate to digitalization and robotics are currently vast, ranging from social learning of robotics to new forms of services where robotics are part of the delivery. As research on work and robotics has for a long time mainly focused on the industrial applications of robotics, the service robots and robots replacing humans at work have grown in importance. The complexity of the relationship of social world and technology becomes highly visible in the working life where digitalization and robotics become part of the work. Papers exploring the theme of robotics in working life and more generally the theme of the conference are welcomed.
LEARNING AND WORK
Chairs: D.Sc. (Econ.) Maija Vähämäki, University of Turku, D.Sc. (Econ. & Bus. Adm.) Maarit Laiho, University of Vaasa, FI
The global pandemic has changed our ways of working and at the same time also affected learning requirements and preparedness for remote working. Learning at work has new manifestations alongside the virtual and mobile facilities. Are the learning organizations still comprehensible social units or are we now gathering pieces of knowledge from everywhere as learning individuals? The recent crisis might also create new ways of participation or build communities of inclusion or exclusion for learning. The requirements for employees to learn new practices and digital competencies are high. Do gender, age or poverty restrict participation in new learning experiences of upskilling people and other learning efforts in work places, and in society in general? We invite papers on the topic of work and learning from different disciplines and perspectives. Papers discussing of new innovative and encouraging ways of learning or critical examinations of the topic are welcome. Papers exploring more generally the theme of the conference are welcomed.
OPEN STREAM
Chair: Prof. Anne Kovalainen
If you have a paper proposal in line with the conference theme but that cannot be accommodated by any of the stream topics and descriptions given above, you are welcome to submit it to the Open Stream. Also, you wish to contribute a Poster you are welcome to submit your proposal to the Open Stream.
The organizers will group the Open Stream papers and poster proposals according to their topics, and will try to ensure that all accepted papers and posters in the Open Stream are accommodated in the conference programme.
PRECARIOUS EMPLOYMENT AND DIGITAL WORLD
Chair: D.Sc. (Econ.) Merja Kauhanen, Labour Institute for Economic Research, FI
Precarity as a form of employment refers to poorly paid, often unprotected and usually insecure work. Precarity is taking new forms which need more detailed analyses of how and in what ways precarity becomes part of the employment patterns. The consequences of precarious employment are many, ranging from individual, such as salary effects to effects on families and communities. The intensification of precarious employment can be seen as a current phenomenon. The most hidden consequences, such as the situation of ‘undocumented’ workers, range from health and safety issues to civic engagement and citizenship issues at large. Papers may examine forms of precarious employment and various impacts of these positions, including family, health, civic engagement, political participation, generational shifts, gender inequality and other areas of social life. The digital divide and pandemic bring in new aspects to precarious employment. The stream especially welcomes papers that relate to the themes described above. Papers exploring more generally the theme of the conference are welcomed.
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFORMING CARE WORK AND PROFESSIONALS
Chairs: Professor Monika Nerland, Oslo University, NO, Associate Professor Mervi Hasu, University of Oslo, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, FI, Senior Researcher Eveliina Saari, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, FI
New technological devices and systems create opportunities for improving the productivity and quality of health and social care, and promise a solution to the crisis of care currently faced in ageing societies. Recent research indicates that a main challenge in realizing these new opportunities is to integrate technologies with the whole system of service provision including the frontline workers and users. Proper integration calls for innovations in institutional arrangements, management, organization of work and ways of working. The stream welcomes empirical and theoretical papers of the topics addressing questions such as how is technology transforming care work, its organization and practices of care work. The stream also welcomes papers addressing the mentioned themes or other topics relevant to the overall theme. Research focusing on the individual perspective, workplace contexts or societal levels, and empirical, methodological or theoretical papers are welcomed.
WORK, WELLBEING AND HEALTH
Chair: Professor Sanna Salanterä, University of Turku, FI, PhD, Clinical Lecturer, Laura-Maria Peltonen, University of Turku Senior Researcher, Development Manager, Postdoctoral Researcher, Anni Pakarinen, University of Turku
Even in contemporary Covid-19 situation work as such has in most cases a positive impact on peoples’ health and well-being. The questions of working life and employees’ mental and physical well-being are highly important at the moment. However, also traditional work hazards still affect large numbers of workers, and during the Covid-19 in new ways. The questions of the occupational hazards with heavy physical or mental workloads need to addressed. At the same time, most work tasks are demanding more and more cognitive skills placing increasing pressure on workers’ mental stamina. Well-being in modern work can be developed and maintained with justice to all workers.
The stream welcomes papers from all aspects concerning work ability maintenance, working life skills, leadership, and digital innovations related to human well-being and productivity. Papers exploring more generally the theme of the conference are welcomed.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND WORK
Chair: Research director Tero Kuusi, Etla
The transition towards environmental sustainability will result in disruptions of the economic system and employment in the coming decades. The transition involves changes in the working environment and demand of skills, as well as reallocation of work between sectors of the economy. It will pose major challenges, but also opportunities if and when a well-designed climate change action leads to more and better jobs. This stream will address the complex questions of sustainability at working life and employment systems among others from, but not restricted to the economic systems’ point of view. Papers and presentations concerning the transitions of working life and sustainability, economic systems transforming work and skills at work, and e.g. the questions of ‘loss of jobs’, with sustainability demands are especially welcomed from all research fields. Papers exploring more generally the theme of the conference are welcomed.
DIGITAL SOCIETY, TECHNOLOGY AND WORK
Chairs: Ph.D Julia Gruhlich, Paderborn University, DE, Professor Anne Kovalainen, University of Turku, FI, Senior Research Fellow, Docent Seppo Poutanen, University of Turku, FI, Ph.D Lena Weber, Paderborn University, DE
Technological innovations are often catalysts for social innovations. We know little about the social changes triggered by new technologies in the world of work – this is especially true for the gender relations associated with the division of public and private spheres and diverse gender hierarchies. Looking at the digitization of work from a gendered and intersectional perspectives, we need a broader perspective to address the gender inequalities at the local and global levels of work, especially with the new digital forms of work such as platforms which blur many boundaries and create new.
The stream calls for papers that explore aspects of digitalization of work and the transformation taking place in organizations and institutions. The stream welcomes papers on intersectionalities of gender, age and ethnicity in relation to the new working life, changing relations between employees and employers, and the new logics of platforms and digital forms of work. Papers exploring more generally the theme of the conference are welcomed.
DIGITAL (IN)VISIBILITY, TRANSPARENCY AND FAIRNESS AT WORK
Chairs: Senior Researcher Laura Seppänen & PhD, Docent, Research professor Tuomo Alasoini, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, FI
The changing visibility and transparency, when examined in the social and institutional contexts of work, are closely linked with questions of fairness. They can be beneficial, but also include tradeoffs and negative outcomes. Questions of ethics and accountability are key to those who design, use or regulate digital tools, algorithms or platforms at work. Exploring the varying ways in which people’s participation in activities are digitized and made visible is key to understanding whose voice is included or excluded in organizational dynamics. This stream aims at enhancing discussion about the processes, outcomes and consequences of digital (in)visibility and transparency. Special attention is paid to the fairness outcomes in relation to (in)visibility and transparency. How do workers and enterprises deal with ethical concerns and divides in relation to digital transparency/ invisibility? The stream invites presentations of a wide range of phenomena around digital transparency, (in)visibility and fairness in work and working life. Both empirical case studies and theoretical insights are welcomed. Papers exploring more generally the theme of the conference are welcomed.
EDUCATION, WORK AND EMPLOYMENT
Chairs: PhD Annukka Jauhiainen and Adjunct professor Anne Laiho, University of Turku, FI
Education is crucial for work in several ways. This stream focuses on the interplay between education and working life, and invites papers on various aspects of learning-work relations. These relations can consist relations such as the transition from school to work, the array of continuing and informal learning activities in work organizations, education as a means to enhance job quality and to prolong working careers, and the systemic underemployment of learning capacities in relation to class, gender, cultural, generational and other social differences. Currently, The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on people’s lives worldwide. The effects of pandemic on working life and education including flexible working and learning arrangements, virtual learning environments and online learning are particularly topical issues at the moment. The stream especially welcomes papers that relate to the themes described above. Papers exploring more generally the theme of the conference are welcomed.
GENDERING WORK
Chairs: Professor Em. Päivi Korvajärvi, PhD Minna Nikunen, University of Jyväskylä, FI
Gender and work are entangled in several complex ways. Work is embodied and person-related, and its percussions to gendering society reach beyond the work itself. It is therefore crucial to analyze how gender relates to work and how it is located in structures, meanings, interactions and subjects constituted and reconstituted in work. The questions of embodied work and ways through which the gendering of work takes place are among the topics of interest in this stream. The contemporary questions in relation to gendered effects of pandemics to working life, and inequalities in relation to gendered working life are welcomed. Also papers and studies addressing the gendering taking place at different levels and in different processes of working life are especially welcomed. Papers exploring more generally the theme of the conference from gender perspective are welcomed.
OPEN STREAM
Chair: TBA
If you have a paper proposal in line with the conference theme but that cannot be accommodated by any of the stream topics and descriptions given above, you are welcome to submit it to the Open Stream. Also, you wish to contribute a Poster you are welcome to submit your proposal to the Open Stream.
The organizers will group the Open Stream papers and poster proposals according to their topics, and will try to ensure that all accepted papers and posters in the Open Stream are accommodated in the conference programme.
PLATFORM WORK: THEORY RESEARCH AND ACTION
Chair: Professor Steven Vallas, Northeastern University, US
The spread of the on-demand economy has provoked an outpouring of debate among social scientists, as well as legal and political debate within cities across the world. This stream invites papers that help make sense of the growth of platform work in its many forms, their consequences for the quality of employment, and possible responses regarding socially beneficial forms of regulation as well. The stream especially invites papers and presentations that address the individual and/or collective actions against or in relation to platform work. Papers exploring more generally the theme of the conference are welcomed as well.
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFORMING CARE WORK AND PROFESSIONALS
Chairs: Professor Monika Nerland, Oslo University, NO, Associate Professor Mervi Hasu, University of Oslo, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, FI, Senior Researcher Eveliina Saari, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, FI
New technological devices and systems create opportunities for improving the productivity and quality of health and social care, and promise a solution to the crisis of care currently faced in ageing societies. Recent research indicates that a main challenge in realizing these new opportunities is to integrate technologies with the whole system of service provision including the frontline workers and users. Proper integration calls for innovations in institutional arrangements, management, organization of work and ways of working. The stream welcomes empirical and theoretical papers of the topics addressing questions such as how is technology transforming care work, its organization and practices of care work. The stream also welcomes papers addressing the mentioned themes or other topics relevant to the overall theme. Research focusing on the individual perspective, workplace contexts or societal levels, and empirical, methodological or theoretical papers are welcomed.
WORK, WELLBEING AND HEALTH
Chair: Professor Sanna Salanterä, University of Turku, FI, PhD, Clinical Lecturer, Laura-Maria Peltonen, University of Turku Senior Researcher, Development Manager, Postdoctoral Researcher, Anni Pakarinen, University of Turku
Even in contemporary Covid-19 situation work as such has in most cases a positive impact on peoples’ health and well-being. The questions of working life and employees’ mental and physical well-being are highly important at the moment. However, also traditional work hazards still affect large numbers of workers, and during the Covid-19 in new ways. The questions of the occupational hazards with heavy physical or mental workloads need to addressed. At the same time, most work tasks are demanding more and more cognitive skills placing increasing pressure on workers’ mental stamina. Well-being in modern work can be developed and maintained with justice to all workers.
The stream welcomes papers from all aspects concerning work ability maintenance, working life skills, leadership, and digital innovations related to human well-being and productivity. Papers exploring more generally the theme of the conference are welcomed.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND WORK
Chair: Research director Tero Kuusi, Etla
The transition towards environmental sustainability will result in disruptions of the economic system and employment in the coming decades. The transition involves changes in the working environment and demand of skills, as well as reallocation of work between sectors of the economy. It will pose major challenges, but also opportunities if and when a well-designed climate change action leads to more and better jobs. This stream will address the complex questions of sustainability at working life and employment systems among others from, but not restricted to the economic systems’ point of view. Papers and presentations concerning the transitions of working life and sustainability, economic systems transforming work and skills at work, and e.g. the questions of ‘loss of jobs’, with sustainability demands are especially welcomed from all research fields. Papers exploring more generally the theme of the conference are welcomed.
DIGITAL SOCIETY, TECHNOLOGY AND WORK
Chairs: Ph.D Julia Gruhlich, Paderborn University, DE, Professor Anne Kovalainen, University of Turku, FI, Senior Research Fellow, Docent Seppo Poutanen, University of Turku, FI, Ph.D Lena Weber, Paderborn University, DE
Technological innovations are often catalysts for social innovations. We know little about the social changes triggered by new technologies in the world of work – this is especially true for the gender relations associated with the division of public and private spheres and diverse gender hierarchies. Looking at the digitization of work from a gendered and intersectional perspectives, we need a broader perspective to address the gender inequalities at the local and global levels of work, especially with the new digital forms of work such as platforms which blur many boundaries and create new.
The stream calls for papers that explore aspects of digitalization of work and the transformation taking place in organizations and institutions. The stream welcomes papers on intersectionalities of gender, age and ethnicity in relation to the new working life, changing relations between employees and employers, and the new logics of platforms and digital forms of work. Papers exploring more generally the theme of the conference are welcomed.
DIGITALISATION, COVID-19 AND CHANGES IN WORKING LIFE
Chairs: Senior Researcher Anna Pärnänen, Senior Researcher Hanna Sutela, Statistics Finland, FI
Working life seems to be changing now faster than ever. In Finland, digitalisation has rapidly penetrated working life even before the Covid-19 crisis, but the crisis has accelerated this development. The long-term impacts of the Covid-19 crisis are yet to be seen, but it already seems evident that changes may impact different groups of employees and self-employed differently. We welcome to this working group papers on the impact of digitalization and Covid-19 on working life. Papers with gender perspective and/or international comparison are especially warmly welcomed. Papers exploring more generally the theme of the conference are welcomed.
GENDERING WORK
Chairs: Professor Em. Päivi Korvajärvi, PhD Minna Nikunen, University of Jyväskylä, FI
Gender and work are entangled in several complex ways. Work is embodied and person-related, and its percussions to gendering society reach beyond the work itself. It is therefore crucial to analyze how gender relates to work and how it is located in structures, meanings, interactions and subjects constituted and reconstituted in work. The questions of embodied work and ways through which the gendering of work takes place are among the topics of interest in this stream. The contemporary questions in relation to gendered effects of pandemics to working life, and inequalities in relation to gendered working life are welcomed. Also papers and studies addressing the gendering taking place at different levels and in different processes of working life are especially welcomed. Papers exploring more generally the theme of the conference from gender perspective are welcomed.
OPEN STREAM
Chair: TBA
If you have a paper proposal in line with the conference theme but that cannot be accommodated by any of the stream topics and descriptions given above, you are welcome to submit it to the Open Stream. Also, you wish to contribute a Poster you are welcome to submit your proposal to the Open Stream.
The organizers will group the Open Stream papers and poster proposals according to their topics, and will try to ensure that all accepted papers and posters in the Open Stream are accommodated in the conference programme.
TECHNOLOGY AND EVERY DAY LIFE
Chair: Professor Gunilla Widén, Åbo Akademi University, FI, Professor Isto Huvila, Uppsala University, Researcher, PhD Farhan Ahmad, University of Turku
Technology is integrated in our everyday life and it is difficult to imagine how to manage without the numerous innovations that shape today’s information society. The information and communication technology has progressed so fast that we only now start to see its consequences. There are positive effects, such as improved communication, better access to information, flexible work, better possibilities to combine work and everyday life, to mention a few. The negative effects bring overload, contradicting information or disinformation, leaving the individual with the responsibility to evaluate the trustworthiness of information. Increasing challenges with privacy and security issues, and the stress and absence of borders between professional and everyday life need further also exploration.
The stream welcomes papers addressing the mentioned themes or other topics relevant to the overall theme. Research focusing on the individual perspective, workplace contexts or societal levels, and empirical, methodological or theoretical papers are welcomed. Papers exploring more generally the theme of the conference are welcomed.
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFORMING CARE WORK AND PROFESSIONALS
Chairs: Professor Monika Nerland, Oslo University, NO, Associate Professor Mervi Hasu, University of Oslo, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, FI, Senior Researcher Eveliina Saari, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, FI
New technological devices and systems create opportunities for improving the productivity and quality of health and social care, and promise a solution to the crisis of care currently faced in ageing societies. Recent research indicates that a main challenge in realizing these new opportunities is to integrate technologies with the whole system of service provision including the frontline workers and users. Proper integration calls for innovations in institutional arrangements, management, organization of work and ways of working. The stream welcomes empirical and theoretical papers of the topics addressing questions such as how is technology transforming care work, its organization and practices of care work. The stream also welcomes papers addressing the mentioned themes or other topics relevant to the overall theme. Research focusing on the individual perspective, workplace contexts or societal levels, and empirical, methodological or theoretical papers are welcomed.
WORK, TECHNIQUES AND CRISIS
Chairs: Professor Dr. Robert Helmrich, Dr. Alexandra Mergener, Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), DE
The views how and in what directions do the employment and job opportunities develop, differ largely. Particularly the share of employees in the middle qualification segment decreases relative to the number of employees at the lower and upper end of the qualifications.
Very often the studies do not take account of country-specific educational structures, of the depth and broadness of vocational qualifications as a whole, of occupational flexibility of the labour force, and the reactions of the labour markets and their institutions. Digitalization and Covid-19-Pandemic will have influence on the labor market and the educational system. In this stream, the technological and structural changes on school levels, apprenticeship, further education, employer and employees, firms, sectors, and the labour market will be addressed. New forms of employment with spatial, external/internal flexibility present new challenges for education as well as companies. Papers exploring these themes and more generally the theme of the conference are welcomed.
WORK, WELLBEING AND HEALTH
Chair: Professor Sanna Salanterä, University of Turku, FI, PhD, Clinical Lecturer, Laura-Maria Peltonen, University of Turku Senior Researcher, Development Manager, Postdoctoral Researcher, Anni Pakarinen, University of Turku
Even in contemporary Covid-19 situation work as such has in most cases a positive impact on peoples’ health and well-being. The questions of working life and employees’ mental and physical well-being are highly important at the moment. However, also traditional work hazards still affect large numbers of workers, and during the Covid-19 in new ways. The questions of the occupational hazards with heavy physical or mental workloads need to addressed. At the same time, most work tasks are demanding more and more cognitive skills placing increasing pressure on workers’ mental stamina. Well-being in modern work can be developed and maintained with justice to all workers.
The stream welcomes papers from all aspects concerning work ability maintenance, working life skills, leadership, and digital innovations related to human well-being and productivity. Papers exploring more generally the theme of the conference are welcomed.
Contact information
email: work2021(a)utu.fi
Chair, Professor
Anne Kovalainen
anne.kovalainen(a)utu.fi
Coordinator
Marja Rautajoki
marja.i.rautajoki(a)utu.fi
Research Assistant
Oskari Pukkila
oskari.a.pukkila(a)utu.fi
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