Social welfare officers in companies
A master’s thesis conducts analysis into an important role – within corporate welfare too
Welfare in companies is an important issue, which is now part of national collective bargaining; and yet it is not a new issue – quite the opposite, in fact. When thinking about welfare, therefore, we need to consider the present, but without forgetting the past. This is partly what Michela Pozzato does in the thesis she presented for her master’s degree in Innovation and Social Services at the University of Padua.
“L’assistente sociale d’azienda: tornare alle origini per innovare (Social Welfare Officers in Companies: Innovating by Returning to Basics)” is the title of her thesis, which deals with a specific aspect of corporate welfare – social care in companies. More generally, as Pozzato herself explains, the research aims to understand the evolution of welfare policies, the world of work and social services in relation to socio-economic change. She turns
her attention, therefore, to changes in working conditions, functions and areas where
social welfare officers are engaged.
Her research begins with the history of social services and the evolution of welfare policies in both Italy and Europe. She focuses not only on theoretical aspects but also looks at some company experiences – Olivetti, Reale Mutua and Socomec – as she seeks to investigate the real interest of companies towards this particular role. The analysis, it is noted, “looks through a twin lens: on the one hand, from the perspective of social care professionals and, on the other, from the business perspective (employees, managers, owners)”.
The present nature of corporate welfare and the role of social welfare officers in companies is therefore investigated through a case study of Cartiere del Polesine spa.
Michela Pozzato’s work is a broad analysis of a particular aspect of welfare that should probably be re-evaluated. Particularly interesting – and indeed perhaps the most interesting part overall, because it is where her investigation most comes alive – are the several dozen pages that fully relay the interviews conducted with the workers of the company featuring in the case study.
L’assistente sociale d’azienda: tornare alle origini per innovare (Social Welfare Officers in Companies: Innovating by Returning to Basics)
Michela Pozzato
Thesis, University of Padua. Master’s Degree in Innovation and Social Services, 2023
A master’s thesis conducts analysis into an important role – within corporate welfare too
Welfare in companies is an important issue, which is now part of national collective bargaining; and yet it is not a new issue – quite the opposite, in fact. When thinking about welfare, therefore, we need to consider the present, but without forgetting the past. This is partly what Michela Pozzato does in the thesis she presented for her master’s degree in Innovation and Social Services at the University of Padua.
“L’assistente sociale d’azienda: tornare alle origini per innovare (Social Welfare Officers in Companies: Innovating by Returning to Basics)” is the title of her thesis, which deals with a specific aspect of corporate welfare – social care in companies. More generally, as Pozzato herself explains, the research aims to understand the evolution of welfare policies, the world of work and social services in relation to socio-economic change. She turns
her attention, therefore, to changes in working conditions, functions and areas where
social welfare officers are engaged.
Her research begins with the history of social services and the evolution of welfare policies in both Italy and Europe. She focuses not only on theoretical aspects but also looks at some company experiences – Olivetti, Reale Mutua and Socomec – as she seeks to investigate the real interest of companies towards this particular role. The analysis, it is noted, “looks through a twin lens: on the one hand, from the perspective of social care professionals and, on the other, from the business perspective (employees, managers, owners)”.
The present nature of corporate welfare and the role of social welfare officers in companies is therefore investigated through a case study of Cartiere del Polesine spa.
Michela Pozzato’s work is a broad analysis of a particular aspect of welfare that should probably be re-evaluated. Particularly interesting – and indeed perhaps the most interesting part overall, because it is where her investigation most comes alive – are the several dozen pages that fully relay the interviews conducted with the workers of the company featuring in the case study.
L’assistente sociale d’azienda: tornare alle origini per innovare (Social Welfare Officers in Companies: Innovating by Returning to Basics)
Michela Pozzato
Thesis, University of Padua. Master’s Degree in Innovation and Social Services, 2023