Employee participation, job quality, and inequality

PurposeThe purpose is to review the effects of employee participation (EP) in decision-making, ownership and profit on job quality, worker well-being and productivity, and derive policy recommendations from the findings.Design/methodology/approachThe authors summarise results of “declining labour power”, plus theoretical arguments and empirical evidence for the benefits of EP for job quality, satisfaction and productivity.FindingsWorker well-being and job satisfaction are ignored unless they contribute directly to profitability. EP is needed to remedy this situation when employers have market power and unions are weak. The result can be a rise in both productivity and well-being.Research limitations/implicationsThe chief issue here is that there are data limitations, particularly on the well-being effects of participation.Practical implicationsLots of encouraging examples in many countries need legislative help to multiply.Social implicationsIt is quite possible that there could be major implications for welfare and employment.Originality/valueThe authors make the case for public sector subsidies for employee buyouts and new cooperative start-ups, as well as legislation for works councils and profit sharing.