Rose Ryan Athena Research Ltd 25 November 2008

 How do employers and workers/worker representatives characterise their relationship? ◦ the employment relationship is not immutable ◦ Employers have a choice about how they approach it  How do employers approach the dance floor? ◦ Boxing? ◦ Tiptoeing through the tulips? ◦ Dancing in the dark?

 Iwi and other providers of health and social services providing: ◦ Disability services ◦ Family/whanau services ◦ Support services for vulnerable children and older people ◦ Services to migrants ◦ Supported employment services ◦ Social and community housing

 11,280 non-profit social services NGOs employing 31,480 staff  2,210 non-profit health NGOs employing 15,090 staff  Employ more staff than other NFPs  Average size of 18 staff – 11.6% employ over 70% of employees  More than 50% of expenditure is employee wages  Significant growth  23% of GDP

 Low levels of collectivisation ◦ NZ Nurses Union ◦ Public Service Association ◦ Service and Food Workers Union  Less beneficial wages and conditions than in other sectors  But more flexible hours and working arrangements?  Higher levels of job satisfaction?

 The importance of emotional labour ◦ Caring and vocational orientation ◦ Quality of service being provided  Control and autonomy ◦ Importance of service recipient satisfaction vs satisfaction of funders  Occupational and professional identity

 Government contracting processes  Multiplicity of strategies (e.g.; NZ Disability strategy, Pathways to Partnership. Professionalisation initiatives)  Regulatory and non-regulatory workplace policies ◦ Pay and Employment Equity ◦ Holidays Act changes ◦ Flexible working arrangements ◦ Health and safety

 Recognition of employee voice as a mechanism for voicing professional judgement  Interests of service recipients/users, service providers and funders  Service improvement models and innovation