Attitudes towards workers' participation in Greek industry: a field study

Abstract

This paper attempts to analyze the reactions of C.E.O.s, middle managers, unionists and workers in
Greek enterprises that have introduced diverse schemes of workers' participation. Top managers in
participatory firms normally support participation, whereas middle managers and supervisors have
proved to be more sceptic towards the issue. Unionists generally favour forms of representation, while
they reject schemes involving the distribution of company shares to workers. Finally, workers have
appealed to participation only temporarily, mostly when confronted with the impending bankruptcy of
their firm. For the participation process to advance, the education of the ones involved in human relations
issues seems to be necessary.