Changing job roles in the Norwegian and UK fitness industry: in search of national institutional effects

Abstract

There has been considerable debate about the impact of different national institutional environments on work organization. The Nordic countries, with their strong trade unions and well developed systems of social partnership around collective bargaining and vocational education and training, are found to be particularly advanced when it comes to developing more autonomous job roles. While institutions are said to play a key role, some commentators point to the existence of national employment ‘logics’ which may have a more far-reaching influence. Drawing upon qualitative research, the article compares the job of fitness instructor in Norway and the UK. The study finds little evidence of a clear country-level difference in job design, suggesting that if there is a national employment ‘logic’ it has been overwhelmed by specific industry dynamics.