Introduction to special issue

Abstract

This special issue volume focuses on research into Human Resource Management (HRM) and job quality. Improving job quality is firmly on the public policy agenda in the European Union (EU) and is central to the International Labour Office's (ILO's) decent work agenda. There has been considerable policy debate in the EU concerning job quality and the need to create not only more but also better jobs. This introduction reviews the nature and measurement of job quality and discusses the HRM rationale for improvement. This article assesses workplace programmes that can assist in improving job quality before introducing the issues to be covered in this special edition.