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Abstract

While research on the workplace attitudes, expectations and perceptions of white-collar workers has flourished over the past decades, there has been considerably less progress on establishing the concomitant contemporary perceptions of blue-collar workers. Within the South African context, this is a substantial gap in understanding. This article therefore reports the results of an exploratory qualitative study of the workplace perceptions, expectations and attitudes of some 300 South African blue-collar workers in the Gauteng region, using a critical incidents technique. Pay issues, humanity and support were found to be the foremost themes in workers' stories with regard to organisational obligations. Common themes regarding employee obligations included adequate work performance, care and protection of the employer's property, maintaining good work relationships and keeping to designated work hours. Compensation-specific issues focused on pay rises and bonuses, while equity and benefits issues were unexpectedly absent. Also absent were stories regarding development, family and HIV/AIDS.

Keywords

blue-collar workers compensation labour labour relations workplace perceptions work relationships

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Perceptions of Workplace Issues among Blue-Collar Workers in South Africa's Gauteng Province

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