I arbetets skugga: En etnografisk studie av tomt (socialt) arbete

Sammanfattning: The aim of this study was to examine and understand treatment counselors´ working methods and strategies in relation to empty labor. The study has also focused on examining how the attitude is expressed, partly from colleagues and partly from superiors. With an ethnographic approach, the phenomenon empty labor, i.e., when someone spends time on activities that are not considered as working tasks, was studied through semi structured interviews, observations and documents at three different homes for care or housing. The survey showed that empty labor occurs on all units, which can be understood by the high level of opacity in the professional role. Through opacity, which makes work difficult to supervise and hard to measure, treatment counselors have a relatively easy time to do foot dragging or soldiering at work. The study shows that this can be done either through neutralization techniques or through uptitling where certain tasks are given a higher value and should therefore be prioritized. Further on, the team is an important factor in ensuring that employees together can continue to perform empty labor without being revealed, partly by covering each other, partly because of acceptance and understanding of the deviant behavior. The study has finally shown that the organization itself constantly affect the worker during certain periods. Occasionally the work intensity is so low that there is a lack of tasks and therefore forces the employees into empty labor.