Columbia University School of Social Work
 
T6950 Workers and the Workplace: Issues, Policies, Research, and Programs

Overview and Rationale

This is a one-semester course designed to help students understand the significance of work in the totality of people's lives, the impact of the workplace as a strategic environment in which to enhance clients' experiences and the influence of world of work auspices—trade unions and employers—in the arena of social welfare policy, and on the variety of social work programs and practices.

This course recognizes the many dimensions of the world of work that interconnect with the development of social policy, the practice of social work and the delivery of social services. It assumes that the growth of social work practice in settings from managed care to employee assistance programs, from vocational rehabilitation initiatives to work/family service responses, all require intimate understanding of the role of the occupational benefit structure and the impact of the world of work. The course utilizes the ecosystems approach and a strengths perspective to identify the opportunities for organizational and environmental as well as individually focused interventions. Its purpose is both to provide a foundation for students who select social work in the workplace as their field of practice and to help all interested students understand how to collaborate with the world of work in achieving equitable employment opportunities, in gaining support from the auspices of the workplace for significant social policy directions and social service programs, and in comprehending the intersection of work with family and community in all aspects of life throughout the life cycle.

Learning Outcomes

In this course, students will learn to . . .

  1. Describe the nature of world of work auspices--trade unions and employers--and their interests in social welfare and service delivery issues.
  2. Identify social work function, values and ethics in a world of work setting.
  3. Analyze the composition, status and needs of the diversified labor force, and those denied entry into it, in relation to occupational, demographic and economic variables and their social policy determinants.
  4. Describe how relevant legislation comprises the context of problem definition and service delivery, and identify its impact on the rights and social welfare interests of workers and the broader community.
  5. Apply evaluation methodology in relation to variables relevant to client populations in their role as workers and to work organizations as "monitors" of service accountability.
  6. Identify "best practice" interventions, information resources, publications and materials specific to this field of practice.
  7. Easily communicate ideas in the language of these settings, including in the precise and concise writing style expected in world of work settings.

Council on Social Work Education Core Competencies

This course contributes toward mastery of the following core areas of social work competency identified by the Council on Social Work Education.

Social workers . . .

  • Identify as professional social workers and conduct themselves accordingly.
  • Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice.
  • Engage diversity and difference in practice.
  • Advance human rights and social and economic justice.
  • Engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research.
  • Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment.
  • Engage in policy practice to advance social and economic well-being, and to deliver effective social work services.
  • Respond to contexts that shape practice.
  • Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  • Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  • Evaluate individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Core Content Themes

  • The meaning of work from an individual, historical and societal perspective
  • Trade unions and employers as sponsoring auspices and financial supporters of social policy formulation and social service program delivery and their impact on professional roles, values and ethics including distinctive opportunities and dilemmas in the world of work
  • The selective application of general social work ideas, theories and practices to the specialized interests of work setting and the diversity of workers as the target population, and how to use this specialized view as a conceptual framework for identifying the nature of other fields of practice
  • Mutuality and conflict in coping with multiple roles of worker and family member over the life cycle
  • The impact of work, and employment, on presenting problems, (e.g., unemployment, safety and health, disability, displacement, alcoholism and substance abuse), service eligibility, (e.g., the occupational social welfare system), specialized service delivery systems, (e.g., EAPs, managed care and disability management) and relevant interventions, (e.g., prevention, case management, traumatic event debriefing, job jeopardy)
  • Legislation relevant to the relationship between the world of work and the social welfare sector
  • Social workers as workers; options for self empowerment through organizing, evaluation of practice, use of specialized knowledge and skill