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Healthcare workers were more than essential during the COVID-19 pandemic, a fact that is recognized by societies the world over. However, in many countries, healthcare workers are not satisfied with their working conditions, which has resulted in frequent protests and strikes. One such country is Spain. How can the theory of social dialogue contribute to explaining and improving healthcare workers' conditions during a healthcare crisis such as this one? In this paper, we aim to explore what it is really like for healthcare professionals working under these challenging circumstances, and link their experience to the theory of social dialogue in order to engage in a double process of contribution: from practice to theory and vice versa. In order to do so, we first explore the real-world problems encountered by professionals, focusing particularly on cases in Spain, before reviewing theoretical approaches to the study of social dialogue in organizations, an area that has received very little attention in the revised academic literature. Finally, we show how constructive social dialogue can be an effective tool for improving working conditions for healthcare workers.

Healthcare workers were more than essential during the COVID-19 pandemic, a fact that is recognized by societies the world over. However, in many countries, healthcare workers are not satisfied with their working conditions, which has resulted in frequent protests and strikes. One such country is Spain. How can the theory of social dialogue contribute to explaining and improving healthcare workers’ conditions during a healthcare crisis such as this one? In this paper, we aim to explore what it is really like for healthcare professionals working under these challenging circumstances, and link their experience to the theory of social dialogue in order to engage in a double process of contribution: from practice to theory and vice versa. In order to do so, we first explore the real-world problems encountered by professionals, focusing particularly on cases in Spain, before reviewing theoretical approaches to the study of social dialogue in organizations, an area that has received very little attention in the revised academic literature. Finally, we show how constructive social dialogue can be an effective tool for improving working conditions for healthcare workers. Durante la pandemia COVID-19 la sociedad, a nivel global, se ha dado cuenta de la importancia clave del personal sanitario. Sin embargo, en bastantes partes del mundo se puede apreciar que el personal sanitario no está satisfecho con sus condiciones laborales, y esto se ha reflejado en las abundantes y diversas protestas y huelgas. Esta también es la situación actual a la que se enfrenta España. La cuestión es: ¿de qué manera puede contribuir la teoría sobre el diálogo social a explicar y mejorar la situación del personal sanitario en una crisis sanitaria como la actual? Este artículo pretende explorar la realidad del personal sanitario en estas circunstancias tan cambiantes y retadoras, y enlazarlo con la teoría sobre diálogo social, con el fin de establecer un doble proceso de contribución: desde la práctica a la teoría, y viceversa. Para ello, en primer lugar, se exploran dichos problemas actuales, con un especial foco en el caso de España, y a continuación se revisan los enfoques teóricos aplicables sobre el estudio del diálogo social en las organizaciones, un área que ha recibido muy poca atención en la literatura científica revisada. El estudio muestra cómo el diálogo social constructivo puede ser una herramienta efectiva para la mejora de las condiciones laborales del personal sanitario.

The study of leadership styles is advanced in developed countries; however, in developing countries such as Ecuador studies on this topic are scarce. This study aims to describe the leadership styles of managers of SMEs in Ecuador and the relation between the different styles. The demographic characteristics of the leaders are taken into consideration in order to establish if they have an impact on the pattern used.

International audience

This volume focuses on describing the social dialogue system in organizations from an Human Resources Management perspective. Based on the NEIRE model for industrial relations, key factors are determined contributing to creative social dialogue in European organizations. Actual data from surveys and interviews from more than 700 CEO and HR managers in eleven European countries give insights in the experiences with and expectations of employers of social dialogue. The volume offers a comprehensive introduction to the historical context and current situation in social dialogue in these countries. This context helps to understand the current major challenges in each country when it comes to a vital social dialogue. Using good practices from many organizations, this book offers an agenda for innovative and cooperative social dialogue in organizations.

Table of Contents Chapter 1 Worker Representatives’ Conflict Behavior in Europe 1 1.1. Introduction to this study 1.2. The role of the worker representative in Europe 1.3. Objectives, general model, and overview of the studies 1.4. Industrial relations in Europe 1.5. Industrial relations in Spain: A bumpy ride 1.6. The conflict behavior of worker representatives 1.7. Conclusions Chapter 2 Cooperative and Competitive Patterns Among Worker Representatives. A Cross Cultural Study in Europe 2.1. Abstract 2.2. Theoretical framework 2.3. Method 2.4. Results 2.5. Discussion Chapter 3 The Impact of Employees Trust in Management and Perceived Union Support on Conflict Behavior of Spanish Worker Representatives 3.1. Abstract 3.2. Theoretical framework 3.3. Method 3.4. Results 3.5. Discussion Chapter 4 Dual Commitment and Cooperative Relationships between Management and Worker Representatives in Spain and Germany 4.1. Abstract 4.2. Theoretical framework 4.3. Method 4.4. Results 4.5. Discussion Chapter 5 Do Women Accommodate More Than Men? Gender Differences in Perceived Social Support and Conflict Behavior by Spanish and Dutch Worker Representatives 5.1. Abstract 5.2. Theoretical framework 5.3. Method 5.4. Results 5.5. Discussion Chapter 6 Overall Discussion 6.1. Findings with respect to the formulated research questions 6.2. Overall strengths and weaknesses 6.3. Theoretical implications 6.4. Practical implications 6.5. Overall conclusion Research Projects and Publications Appendixes References nrpages: 181 status: published

In the current context of limited resources and economic, social and labour changes, organizational conflicts are becoming more and more competitive. Two possible explanations for this approach to conflict in Spain are the low trust between unions and management and the long tradition of confrontation in industrial relations. In this study we analyse the conflict pattern from worker representatives and the relation to trust in management and union support. The hypotheses are tested in a quantitative study of 719 representatives. Results show that a) representatives use a competitive conflict style; b) trust is negatively related to this style; and c) union support is positively related to the style. We explore how societal culture and historical industrial relations tradition explain these relations.

Numerous researchers from various disciplines agreed that trust has important benefits for organizations (Dirks & Ferrin, 2001) and their members (Kramer, 1999). However we sometimes find not that easy to achieve the appreciated and desired trust in employment relationships. In this paper, firstly we define the concept of trust and its importance in the European industrial relations. Secondly, we explore how employee representatives (ER) around Europe perceive the relationship with management as well as with co-workers, focusing on trust. Finally, we will conclude with a discussion and some practical recommendations that can help ERs to increase trusty relationships, improving the capacity to participate in the decision making process and leading to a more constructive conflict management. ispartof: Psychologica vol:55 pages:255-272 status: published