Jana Costas, Chair of People, Work & Management at the European University Viadrina, explores the unseen lives of cleaners in Berlin’s Potsdamer Platz, discussing the dignity they carve out despite societal stigmas. Katie Bailey, Emeritus Professor of Work and Employment at King's College London, analyzes why workers in fields like nursing and the arts find deep meaning in their jobs. Together, they uncover the contrasting worlds of corporate professionals and cleaners, shedding light on the invisible labor that often goes unrecognized.
Personal dignity in work is challenged by societal perceptions, as seen in the experiences of unseen cleaners at Potsdamer Platz.
Meaningful work varies significantly across professions, influenced by factors such as personal interactions, societal validation, and feedback recognition.
Deep dives
Defining Meaningful Work
Meaningful work is characterized by the personal significance and value individuals place on their jobs, where they feel their work makes a difference. Researchers have approached this concept from various disciplines, primarily psychology and sociology. In psychology, meaningful work is often linked to job satisfaction, engagement, and the factors that enhance the meaning people derive from their work. In contrast, sociology examines broader societal perceptions of work and how these perceptions influence individual feelings of meaningfulness.
Insights from Diverse Professions
Insights from nurses, creative artists, and lawyers reveal contrasting experiences of meaningfulness in their work. Nurses find meaning through personal interactions and problem-solving moments that directly impact patients, often narrating stories about overcoming obstacles for patient care. Creative artists grapple with the ephemeral value of their contributions, seeking validation that their work enriches society while fearing the stigma of 'selling out' for commercial success. Lawyers express pride in helping clients but are troubled by societal perceptions of their profession, often feeling that their work lacks tangible outcomes.
The Importance of Recognition and Feedback
A significant aspect of experiencing meaningful work is receiving feedback and recognition for contributions made. For instance, nurses report that positive feedback from patients reinforces their sense of meaningfulness and motivation. Similarly, individuals in creative professions seek audience appreciation that affirms the value of their artistic endeavors. However, many workers across different sectors, particularly those in lower-status jobs, often face a lack of recognition that undermines their sense of dignity and fulfillment despite deriving personal pride from their work.
Laurie Taylor talks to Jana Costas, Chair of People, Work & Management at the European University Viadrina, Frankfurt (Oder), Germany about the unseen cleaners beyond the shiny surface of Potsdamer Platz, a designer micro-city within Berlin's city centre. Behind the scenes they pick up cigarette butts from pavements, scrape chewing gum from marble floors and scrub public toilets, long before white-collar workers, consumers and tourists enter the complex. How do they feel about work which some would stigmatise as degrading? How do they salvage a sense of personal dignity? Also, Katie Bailey, Professor of Work and Employment at Kings College, London unpacks her analysis of accounts related by nurses, creative artists and lawyers as to why they find their work meaningful.
Producer: Jayne Egerton
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