Original scientific paper

Dignity of Man and Work

Siniša Zrinšćak ; Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Stjepan Baloban orcid.org/0000-0002-3138-3222 ; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Gordan Črpić ; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

This study discusses the topic of dignity of man and work. The standpoint of the discussion is represented by the results of researches, which refer to work and work values. They have been analysed from different angles: contemporary social processes in the sphere of work, Croatian transitional circumstances and from the perspective of social doctrine of the Church, which explains today's transformation of work and points towards possible solutions. Within this context, the following topics have been dealt with: centrality of work, significant characteristics of a job, working in the objective social circumstances and also individual and collective preferences.
The results of the research show that work has been highly evaluated, but not at the expense of the family or even friends and free time. Among the important characteristics of a job, as priorities are considered a good salary, good job security and interesting job, which points to the fact that a variable of comfort and material conditions are more evaluated than personal development. Work is mostly perceived as an objective necessity, and those who are employed do not show enough satisfaction with the work itself, with autonomy in work and with job security. Croatian citizens also seem to be unauthoritarian in work because, first of all, they want to be sure in the soundness of instructions given to them by a higher-ranked person, and at the same time, they mostly agree with different pay for different work.
The research points to a somewhat more significant acceptance of collective values, but here, to a large extent, contradictory and ambivalent attitudes are revealed, for example in the cases of a large acceptance of the attitudes towards competition as being stimulating, but also of the attitude towards a reduction of differences in salaries. The question of individual and collective preferences most clearly illustrates the problem of transition and the role of the state in the economic and, generally, in the social development.
In the conclusion of the study, the authors discuss about four possible spheres of explanation within which it can be more clearly understood to what extent the issues of the attitude towards work express mutual world trends and European trends, tο what extent the transitional, and to what extent specific Croatian circumstances.

Keywords

work; dignity of man; work values; transition; Croatia

Hrčak ID:

31171

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/31171

Publication date:

15.11.2000.

Article data in other languages: croatian

Visits: 2.675 *