(Mis)taking social responsibility? Implementing welfare state reform by private and non-profit organizations. Issue 12 (1st December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gestel, Nicolette; Waldorff, Susanne Boch; Denis, Jean-Louis
• Is Part Of: Public management review. Volume 22:Issue 12(2020)
• Page Start: 1739
• Page End: 1759
• Publication Date: 2020-12-01
• Subjects: Welfare state reform -- institutional theory -- organizational legitimacy -- social responsibility -- sick leave policy; Local government -- Periodicals; Public administration -- Periodicals; 351.05
• DOI: 10.1080/14719037.2019.1648696
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-9037

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This article relates institutional theory to the concept of organizational legitimacy with cognitive, moral, and pragmatic dimensions, to analyse how a Dutch national policy reform – aimed at expanding the social responsibility for sick leave and disability toward non-state organizations – is understood and enacted locally. Based on interviews in 52 organizations, the study highlights that implementing welfare state reform is predominantly based on pragmatic reasoning, and justified by specific moral and cognitive interpretations. The findings reveal that implementing reform is active institutional work by – paradoxically – restricted local agency, with disciplinary effects on a narrow range of actors.