Social Work in the Workplace

Chapter 15:
Social Work in the Workplace

Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning, Brooks/Cole Publishing

Empowering Programs with Resources
that Enhance Social Work Education


Social Work: A Competency-
Oriented Education

 Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Defines Educational Policy and Accreditation
Standards (EPAs)
- Developed 10 “Core Competencies” and 41
Related “Practice Behaviors”
 Every student should master the Practice
Behaviors and Core Competencies before
completing the program


Resources Aligned to EPAS 2008

 The Textbook –
- “Helping Hands” icons call attention to content that
relates to Practice Behaviors and Competencies

- “Competency Notes” at the end of the chapter
help put the Practice Behaviors and Competencies
in practical context

Resources Aligned to EPAS 2008 (cont’d)

 The Practice Behaviors Workbook developed
with the text provides assignable exercises that
assist in mastering the Practice Behavior and
Competencies

 Additional on-line resources can be found at:
www.cengage.com/socialwork


Historical perspective
• Society in most Western countries based on
Protestant work ethic (work is an expectation of
God and laziness is sinful)
• Men worked; women maintained families
• Until the 1970s, this pattern changed only during
wartime

EP 2.1.3a

Historical perspective (cont’d)
• In recent years, much has changed
• Large numbers of women are now working,
including those with children
• Workplaces are more diverse
• Types of jobs available
• Employees have different expectations about work

EP 2.1.3a

Historical perspective (cont’d)
• Workers expect more from the workplace than just
a paycheck
• Many workers put other priorities ahead of their
jobs
• The relationship between work and family life is a
critical policy issue

EP 2.1.3a
.

Current workforce
• Women hold nearly half of nation’s jobs
• More single-parents (usually women)
• Explosive growth of service industry
• Historical gender wage gap persists

EP 2.1.1a, 2.1.3a, 2.1.8a

Emerging issues
• Expanded child-care options
• Greater ethnic diversity within the workforce
• Two-career families less willing to relocate
• Pay equity for men and women
• An older workforce
• More family-friendly workplace policies
• Fewer total hours per week per employee
• Types of jobs available

EP 2.1.1a, 2.1.3a, 2.1.8a

Emerging Issues (cont’d)
• Restructuring of private benefit policies to more
accurately reflect workforce composition
• Standardization of health care and other benefits

EP 2.1.1a, 2.1.3a, 2.1.8a

Changing nature of work
• Emphasis on innovation and flexibility
• Streamlining of operations
• Cross-functional work teams
• Being responsible for one’s own career
• Adding value across the organization
• Decline in product development cycles

EP 2.1.1a, 2.1.8a

Changing nature of work (cont’d)
• Faster is better
• Traditional benefits replaced by a menu of benefits
• Use of contract labor and outsourcing
• Employee entitlements no longer exist

EP 2.1.1a, 2.1.8a

Impact of changes on employees
and their families
• Balancing work and family life
• Increased stress
• Relocation
• Financial problems
• Accidents and other occupational hazards

EP 2.1.1a, 2.1.3a, 2.1.8a

Impact of changes on employees
and their families (cont’d)
• Violence in the workplace
• Sexual harassment
• Childcare for working parents
• Family care giving

EP 2.1.1a, 2.1.8a

Impact of changes on the workplace
• Costs of substance abuse
• Other problems that cost employers
• Increased health care costs
• Decline in health care coverage
• Increased demands on employers
• Decline in productivity

EP 2.1.1a, 2.1.8a

Addressing Work and Family Issues
• Employee assistance programs
• Dependent care programs
• Flextime
• Job sharing
• Flexi-place

EP 2.1.8a, 2.1.9b

Social work in the workplace
• Social secretary/welfare manager
• Oversee physical welfare, cultural welfare,
economic welfare, and personal welfare
• Scientific management of the workplace focus on
efficiency

EP 2.1.1a, 2.1.9b

Occupational Social Work
Social workers play a major role in strengthening
relationships among individuals, families, and
workplaces

EP 2.1.1a, 2.1.9b

Occupational Social Work Service Models
• Employee service model
• Consumer service model
• Corporate social responsibility model

EP 2.1.8a

The occupational social worker
• Provides information and referral
• Conducts short-term counseling
• Provides specialized emergency services
• Identifies and addresses the needs of special
populations
• Addresses issues such as workplace violence
• Addresses issues of workplace health and safety

EP 2.1.1a, 2.1.9b

The occupational social worker (cont’d)
• Minimizes problems encountered by part-time and
temporary employees
• Assists workers in accessing vocational and
educational opportunities

EP 2.1.1a, 2.1.9b

Social Work in the Workplace

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