Open this publication in new window or tab >>2023 (English)In: Journal of Workplace Learning, ISSN 1366-5626, E-ISSN 1758-7859, Vol. 35, no 9, p. 259-273Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Purpose: This paper aims to focus on conditions for workplace learning (WPL) in highly transient workplaces, exemplified by the tourism and hospitality sector in the Arctic region. The aim is to analyse and discuss how employees and employers view the conditions for employees’ WPL from their respective perspectives. Design/methodology/approach: The study is based on a qualitative approach. Ten interviews with employers and ten interviews with employees were carried out. This opens for different perspectives, including identifying “learning gaps”. The analysis was thematic, with a focus on opportunities and challenges for WPL in these transient workplace contexts. Findings: Overall, conditions for WPL seem unsatisfactory. On the one hand, both employees and employers see WPL as essential for staff retention. Employers also see WPL as a strategy for business development and, thus, profit. On the other hand, high staff turnover makes it challenging to strategically invest in and organize for WPL, especially formal learning. Hence, a Catch-22 situation emerges. Research limitations/implications: As this study is qualitative in its scope, generalizations are analytical rather than statistical. Originality/value: There is a shortage of studies on conditions for WPL, focusing particularly on transient workplaces. Moreover, by including employer and employee perspectives, the authors contribute to a gap in the literature. The empirical contribution of this paper thus lies in using a theoretical WPL framework on transient workplaces, exemplified by the tourism and hospitality industries in the Arctic region.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Emerald Publishing, 2023
Keywords
Arctic region, Staff retention, Staff turnover, Tourism and hospitality, Transient workplaces, Workplace learning
National Category
Learning Work Sciences
Research subject
Human Work Sciences; Industrial Marketing
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-101611 (URN)10.1108/JWL-02-2023-0032 (DOI)001065576500002 ()2-s2.0-85171199730 (Scopus ID)
Note
Validerad;2023;Nivå 2;2023-10-11 (joosat);
CC BY 4.0 Licence
Funder: R&D Fund, Swedish Tourism and Hospitality Industry, (2020-246)
2023-10-112023-10-112024-03-07Bibliographically approved