Why do we work? Is it because we can'survive without the cash, or is it for the love of the job? Management is slowly beginning to realise that workers need to get more from their jobs than a pay-packet. Last year 3,000 firms went bust, and Britain's record of industrial growth during the past five years has been appalling (less than half that of Germany, and only one-seventh that of Japan). The programme asks whether this is due to a failure by management to provide job interest and job satisfaction.
Certainly industrial relations and strikes are demonstrably worse where jobs are basically boring and unsatisfying - as in the car industry. Yet only 32 firms in the whole of Europe have tried experiments to take job-satisfaction into account. Those who do, realise that they get harder work and more loyalty from fewer people. Since management profits from higher productivity, and the workers from better jobs, what is holding up the change?
(Are you happy in your work?: page 3)