Research Group Decent Work

Our ambition is to contribute to an inclusive society by way of conducting practice-based research. How can organisations and municipalities best support people who occupy a vulnerable position on the labour market, in such a way that they are able to (re)gain full and durable participation?

With this line of research, we aim to support employers in creating such inclusive and valuable work opportunities. To this end, we are looking into what is needed to make work meaningful for both the employer and the employee. We also give explicit attention to the position of refugees on the labour market, and to people who are (temporarily) in a vulnerable position due to psychological complaints or psychiatric problems.

The world of labour is undergoing rapid change. Technological developments and the flexibilisation of the labour market are placing demands on employees to develop new skills. Organisations are facing the challenge of ensuring that their employees can continue to function without becoming overworked, while simultaneously achieving the desired results.

This line of research focuses on social innovation in organisations, while remaining attentive to mental health and the human dimension in work. We are studying ways in which to innovate and change organisations and work processes, with the aim of both maintaining high productivity and nurturing (mentally) healthy employees who are able to continue to develop their skills.