“Vi är inte bara här för att uträtta jobbet utan vi är också här för vårt psykosociala mående.” : En kvalitativ studie av medarbetares upplevelser av att arbeta inom arbetsintegrerande sociala företag.

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this study is to examine co-workers' experience of working within WISE and their perceived position in the company and at the labor market. The study also aims to investigate whether WISE contributes to perceived participation for co-workers, which is an ambition among these companies. The study answers three questions at issue; (1) How do co-workers within WISE perceive their work? (2) How do co-workers perceive their position and importance within the company and in the labor market? (3) How does work within WISE contribute to participation at the workplace? The study is based on a qualitative research method with an abductive approach. The questions at issue have been answered through eight semi-structured interviews with co-workers within two WISEs. The empirical material has then been analyzed on the basis of previous research linked to WISE and work, as well as our theoretical starting points, which are Empowerment, The work-first principle, Participation and SOC. The main results of the study shows that co-workers within the WISEs we have had contact with value work highly and as an important part of their lives. The work is described as meaningful as it provides the co-workers with a connection to colleagues and a place to be. The co-workers answers further indicate that they do not experience themselves as participants in an employment activity, but they see their position in the labor market as working individuals. By being active within a WISE, the co-workers have gained a sense of empowerment. The methods for how participation is achieved are similar between the two companies, where staff meetings are mentioned as the main strategy. The level of participation varies between co-workers, but what they all have in common is that they experience participation at the workplace. In this way, work within WISE have contributed to participation.