 | Work and the Workplace: A Resource for Innovative Policy and Practice Sheila H. Akabas and Paul A. Kurzman present a comprehensive look at the ways in which management, labor organizations, government, and the social work profession can better respond to the needs of workers and their families and communities. Focusing on the social, psychological, and economic conditions of the workplace, this volume addresses the domino impact of unemployment; the inadequacy of insurance, benefit, and support systems; barriers to entering the workforce; the conflict between work and family obligations; the sometimes unsupportive nature of many jobs and settings; and the difficulties faced by people with chronic or acute illnesses. In conclusion, the authors assess current trends and consider the future possibilities of career counseling, pre-retirement preparation, disability management, executive coaching, manpower programming, and managed care. Case studies and study questions accompany each chapter. Sheila H. Akabas is a professor at the Columbia University School of Social Work, director of the Center for Social Policy and Practice in the Workplace, and chair of both the World of Work as a Field of Practice and the Social Enterprise Administration as a Method of Practice.Paul A. Kurzman is a professor at the Hunter College School of Social Work and at the Graduate School and University Center of the City University of New York. He is chair of the School's Work, Employment, and Rehabilitation Specialization and past president of the New York City Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.The authors are also the coeditors of Work, Workers, and Work Organizations: A View from Social Work and Work and Well-Being: The Occupational Social Work Advantage . |
