Trouble at Work

Trouble in the workplace - whether it is bullying, harassment or excessive stress - has long been a popular topic in the headlines. Yet the research and statistics that are cited in these discussions often prove unreliable. In 'Trouble at Work', Ralph Fevre draws on comprehensive data and surveys to gather a clearer, more balanced picture of our workplaces today. With a coverage that is in-depth and international in scope, this book highlights how and why workplace troubles can occur, emphasizing common problems such as division of labour, occupational hierarchy and workplace behaviour. 'Trouble at Work' challenges conventional wisdom on several fronts by showing that union presence often offers no more protection, and that small workplaces are no more troubled than large ones. Drawing on large-scale survey data and over 100 personal interviews, 'Trouble at Work' offers a detailed overview of contemporary working life and concrete suggestions as to where we go from here.

Ralph Fevre is Professor of Social Research at Cardiff University, UK. His publications include The Sociology of the Labour Markets (1992), The Demoralization of Western Culture (2000) and The New Sociology of Economic Behaviour (2003). Duncan Lewis is Professor of Management at Plymouth University, UK. His recent publications include articles in Public Management Review and Public Administration.Amanda Robinson is Senior Lecturer in Criminology at Cardiff University, UK. She has recently published in the Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, and in Violence Against Women: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal. Trevor Jones is Deputy Director of the School of Social Sciences, and Reader in Criminology at Cardiff University, UK. He is co-author of Plural Policing: A Comparative Perspective (2006) and Policy Transfer and Criminal Justice: Exploring US Influence Over British Crime Control (2006).