Recognizing employees: reification, dignity and promoting care in management
Cross Cultural Management: An International Journal
ISSN: 1352-7606
Article publication date: 26 April 2013
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to develop the idea of recognition in organizations, arguing that recognition is a fundamental building block of workplace dignity, and a key element of cultural respect in the workplace.
Design/methodology/approach
As a conceptual paper, the current work approaches discussions of human resource management through the lens of recognition theory, applying ideas of recognition and reification to workplace issues.
Findings
Workplace reification can be observed in diverse areas of human resource management, reflecting a “human capital” view of employees. The paper traces this view in terms of measurement and incentives, as well as individual and group diversity within the workplace.
Originality/value
The paper contributes to the literature on care in human resources by briding ideas from management and critical social theory, contributing to the former by couching workplace dignity in terms of social theoretic foundations of recognition, and contributing to the latter by showing how the workplace can form an important site for recognition.
Keywords
Citation
Islam, G. (2013), "Recognizing employees: reification, dignity and promoting care in management", Cross Cultural Management: An International Journal, Vol. 20 No. 2, pp. 235-250. https://doi.org/10.1108/13527601311313490
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2013, Emerald Group Publishing Limited