The German Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) hosted an Information Sharing Workshop on “Interactive (Service) Work” at its Berlin site on January 18th and 19th, 2024.
Participants
Hosted by Nadja Doerflinger and attended by colleagues from BAuA, the workshop welcomed Jan Michiel Meeuwsen, coordinator of the PEROSH-network, along with researchers from FIOH (Finland), AUVA (Austria), DGUV (Germany), INRS (France), INSST (Spain), and non-PEROSH member INIFES (Germany). The gathering aimed to delve into research on interactive (service) work in Europe and its practical implications.
Interactive service work on the growth
Participants seized the opportunity to showcase ongoing or completed research projects, exchanging ideas and receiving feedback from peers. BAuA’s commitment to research in this area was evident through both the organization of the workshop and ongoing projects. Follow these links to publications in which Nadja Doerflinger lays the theoretical groundwork for interactive work, followed by Jonas Wehrmann offering practical insights on interactive service work for risk assessments.
New research paradigm
The workshop explored diverse methodologies, spanning quantitative and qualitative approaches. Participants highlighted the challenge of quantifying interactive work and the limitations of conventional research paradigms rooted in blue-collar employment, often inadequate for interactive service work. The organizational context’s pivotal role in shaping working conditions and customer interactions was underscored.
Interactive work: a distinctive OSH category
While acknowledging the dominance of service work in Europe nowadays, workshop attendees emphasized the need to elevate the visibility of specific demands such as emotional labor and potential stressors like increasing violence against service providers in occupational health and safety (OSH) strategies. Recognizing interactive work as a distinct analytical category within OSH was deemed essential.
Discussions also revolved around future research directions, collaborative opportunities, and funding prospects. Themes such as socially sustainable interactive service work, technological impacts, gender roles, and methodological challenges were explored, fostering extensive knowledge exchange and paving the way for future collaborations.
COST proposal
The group discussed the possibilities to submit a COST proposal on this topic and built a network of research. Anyone who is keen to join, can contact us.
Additionally, have a look at our repository on articles and publications around service work. Are you interested to stay up to date, subscribe to our newsletter and events.
For further information, contact:
Nadja Dörflinger
Doerflinger.Nadja@baua.bund.de
