Changing Work: American Workers in Sweden

Genre: Educational

Year Published: 1975

Creator: Ericstam Björn production direction

Format: 16mm

Sound: sound

Copyright: Registered 5May78 · PA 5-187 (Jan-Jun 1978) Copyright holder: Ford Foundation

Description: "Toward the end of 1974, six American auto workers spent a month working in an engine assembly plant in Sweden in an effort to gauge their reactions to an experimental program designed to improve the quality of working life. One section of the Saab-Scania plant to which they were assigned has abandoned the traditional assembly-line approach to auto making in favor of group assembly. In this process, teams of three workers assemble engines according to a schedule the group sets for itself, in order to have more satisfying ways to do their jobs. In addition, the plants includes development groups that open up communications between workers and supervisors, and a plant-wide council that enables workers and management to discuss and plan company policies. Changing work follows the visiting Americans during their stay in Sweden, observing them at work and away from the job. Their comments while in Sweden are weighed against reflections after they return to Detroit ..., cont Summary continues ... They speak about how they feel about their jobs, what they want in a work environment, and what they think about studies such as the one they undertook. As one of the workers points out, "There are a lot of people who have to work in factories, and it's true that people who are reasonably happy do make better employees and they do make better products than people who don't want to go to work and work under terrible conditions. I mean, they just don't want to show up, 'cause it's a bummer to go to work. And even when they're there, the job they do is terrible"--Accompanying documentation