Sustainable employability – definition, conceptualization, and implications: A perspective based on the capability approach
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this paper is to propose a new model of sustainable employability based on the capability approach, encompassing the complexity of contemporary work, and placing particular emphasis on work-related values. METHODS: Having evaluated existing conceptual models of work, health, a...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH)
2016-01-01
|
Series: | Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: |
https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=3531
|
id |
doaj-fe814819b165465eba0eeac53b278582 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-fe814819b165465eba0eeac53b2785822021-04-21T11:11:12ZengNordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH)Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health0355-31401795-990X2016-01-01421717910.5271/sjweh.35313531Sustainable employability – definition, conceptualization, and implications: A perspective based on the capability approachJac JL van der Klink0Ute BültmannAlex BurdorfWilmar B SchaufeliFred RH ZijlstraFemke I AbmaSandra BrouwerGert Jan van der WiltTilburg University, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tranzo, Scientific Center for Care and Welfare, PO Box 90153, 5000 LE Tilburg. The Netherlands.OBJECTIVES: The aim of this paper is to propose a new model of sustainable employability based on the capability approach, encompassing the complexity of contemporary work, and placing particular emphasis on work-related values. METHODS: Having evaluated existing conceptual models of work, health, and employability, we concluded that prevailing models lack an emphasis on important work-related values. Amartya Sen’s capability approach (CA) provides a framework that incorporates a focus on values and reflects the complexity of sustainable employability. RESULTS: We developed a model of sustainable employability based on the CA. This model can be used as starting point for developing an assessment tool to investigate sustainable employability. CONCLUSIONS: A fundamental premise of the CA is that work should create value for the organization as well as for the worker. This approach challenges researchers, policy-makers, and practitioners to investigate what people find important and valuable – what they would like to achieve in a given (work) context – and moreover to ascertain whether people are able and enabled to do so. According to this approach, it is not only the individual who is responsible for achieving this; the work context is also important. Rather than merely describing relationships between variables, as existing descriptive models often do, the CA depicts a valuable goal: a set of capabilities that constitute valuable work. Moreover, the CA fits well with recent conceptions of health and modern insights into work, in which the individual works towards his or her own goals that s/he has to achieve within the broader goals of the organization. https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=3531 sustainable employabilityamartya senquality of working lifecapability approachworkmodelemployability |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Jac JL van der Klink Ute Bültmann Alex Burdorf Wilmar B Schaufeli Fred RH Zijlstra Femke I Abma Sandra Brouwer Gert Jan van der Wilt |
spellingShingle |
Jac JL van der Klink Ute Bültmann Alex Burdorf Wilmar B Schaufeli Fred RH Zijlstra Femke I Abma Sandra Brouwer Gert Jan van der Wilt Sustainable employability – definition, conceptualization, and implications: A perspective based on the capability approach Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health sustainable employability amartya sen quality of working life capability approach work model employability |
author_facet |
Jac JL van der Klink Ute Bültmann Alex Burdorf Wilmar B Schaufeli Fred RH Zijlstra Femke I Abma Sandra Brouwer Gert Jan van der Wilt |
author_sort |
Jac JL van der Klink |
title |
Sustainable employability – definition, conceptualization, and implications: A perspective based on the capability approach |
title_short |
Sustainable employability – definition, conceptualization, and implications: A perspective based on the capability approach |
title_full |
Sustainable employability – definition, conceptualization, and implications: A perspective based on the capability approach |
title_fullStr |
Sustainable employability – definition, conceptualization, and implications: A perspective based on the capability approach |
title_full_unstemmed |
Sustainable employability – definition, conceptualization, and implications: A perspective based on the capability approach |
title_sort |
sustainable employability – definition, conceptualization, and implications: a perspective based on the capability approach |
publisher |
Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH) |
series |
Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health |
issn |
0355-3140 1795-990X |
publishDate |
2016-01-01 |
description |
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this paper is to propose a new model of sustainable employability based on the capability approach, encompassing the complexity of contemporary work, and placing particular emphasis on work-related values. METHODS: Having evaluated existing conceptual models of work, health, and employability, we concluded that prevailing models lack an emphasis on important work-related values. Amartya Sen’s capability approach (CA) provides a framework that incorporates a focus on values and reflects the complexity of sustainable employability. RESULTS: We developed a model of sustainable employability based on the CA. This model can be used as starting point for developing an assessment tool to investigate sustainable employability. CONCLUSIONS: A fundamental premise of the CA is that work should create value for the organization as well as for the worker. This approach challenges researchers, policy-makers, and practitioners to investigate what people find important and valuable – what they would like to achieve in a given (work) context – and moreover to ascertain whether people are able and enabled to do so. According to this approach, it is not only the individual who is responsible for achieving this; the work context is also important. Rather than merely describing relationships between variables, as existing descriptive models often do, the CA depicts a valuable goal: a set of capabilities that constitute valuable work. Moreover, the CA fits well with recent conceptions of health and modern insights into work, in which the individual works towards his or her own goals that s/he has to achieve within the broader goals of the organization. |
topic |
sustainable employability amartya sen quality of working life capability approach work model employability |
url |
https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=3531
|
work_keys_str_mv |
AT jacjlvanderklink sustainableemployabilitydefinitionconceptualizationandimplicationsaperspectivebasedonthecapabilityapproach AT utebultmann sustainableemployabilitydefinitionconceptualizationandimplicationsaperspectivebasedonthecapabilityapproach AT alexburdorf sustainableemployabilitydefinitionconceptualizationandimplicationsaperspectivebasedonthecapabilityapproach AT wilmarbschaufeli sustainableemployabilitydefinitionconceptualizationandimplicationsaperspectivebasedonthecapabilityapproach AT fredrhzijlstra sustainableemployabilitydefinitionconceptualizationandimplicationsaperspectivebasedonthecapabilityapproach AT femkeiabma sustainableemployabilitydefinitionconceptualizationandimplicationsaperspectivebasedonthecapabilityapproach AT sandrabrouwer sustainableemployabilitydefinitionconceptualizationandimplicationsaperspectivebasedonthecapabilityapproach AT gertjanvanderwilt sustainableemployabilitydefinitionconceptualizationandimplicationsaperspectivebasedonthecapabilityapproach |
_version_ |
1721516501428600832 |