ABSTRACT

This book provides thoughtful insights into the development in work, organisations and employment relations in the last 50 years. In a semi-autobiographical approach, the author reflects on important contributions by other scholars, practitioners, and policy makers to work and employment relations.

The book covers a variety of themes which have been the subject of research undertaken by the author over his career and explores these themes over a period of time with examples drawn from various countries. It also emphasises that countries and regions cannot be understood in isolation from each other. The author seeks to convey the importance of crossing disciplinary boundaries in the social sciences in order to interpret changes in work, organisations and employment relations.

Drawing on the author’s rich experience and research, the book is engaging and accessible to anyone who wishes to learn more about the rapidly changing workplace and employment relations.

chapter 1|15 pages

Starting out (1940s and 1950s)

chapter 3|12 pages

Nordic exposure (1967–1970)

chapter 6|22 pages

Transition to Sydney

The Hawke/Keating era begins (1981–1986)