Gregersen, Signe Ørkeby

Lavaud, Manon Alice

This Master’s Thesis examines, how work integration social enterprises (WISE), in-between business and social commitment, can improve the position and opportunities of vulnerable people on the labour market. The foundation of the thesis is critical hermeneutics and our pre-understandings are influenced by the conceptual framework composed of theories by Pierre Bourdieu and Axel Honneth. Empirically the thesis is based on participant observation in three selected social enterprises and 13 qualitative interviews with managers from different social enterprises. Combining the conceptual framework, fieldnotes from our participant observation and the 13 qualitative interviews together with research, political statements and present legislation, we bring our pre-understandings into play in the analysis via the ‘hermeneutic spiral’. The analysis is divided into three levels: investigating the role of social enterprises in the Danish welfare society; their organizational conditions; and what vulnerable people achieve from being affiliated to a social enterprise. The first part of the analysis shows that social enterprises create a new social space in-between the fields of business, social work and employment. While the importance of having a ‘real job’ is still misrecognised as a form of symbolic capital, the social enterprises try to redefine the principles of differentiation in the employment field, so that even a poor working capacity is sufficient to enter the labour market. In the second part of the analysis, we identify some external conditions that the social enterprises are subject to. In addition to this, we examine how the social space in three selected enterprises is organised in order to consider the challenges of their vulnerable employees and put their resources into play. We conclude that business and social work are two contradictory but also interrelated logics inside the social enterprise. Thus, it is crucial to find the right balance in-between. In the third part of the analysis, we find that the vulnerable employees, dealing with problems of mental health and drug abuse, achieve recognition through their work in a social enterprise. At the same time, their possession of social and cultural capital is enhanced and their habitus is positively affected. Even though this change is part of a prolonged process, their position in the field of employment can be improved, while their life quality is enhanced. We therefore conclude that – in the right combination of business and social work – social enterprises can act as an alternative form of employment as well as a stepping stone to regular employment for vulnerable people.This Master’s Thesis examines, how work integration social enterprises (WISE), in-between business and social commitment, can improve the position and opportunities of vulnerable people on the labour market. The foundation of the thesis is critical hermeneutics and our pre-understandings are influenced by the conceptual framework composed of theories by Pierre Bourdieu and Axel Honneth. Empirically the thesis is based on participant observation in three selected social enterprises and 13 qualitative interviews with managers from different social enterprises. Combining the conceptual framework, fieldnotes from our participant observation and the 13 qualitative interviews together with research, political statements and present legislation, we bring our pre-understandings into play in the analysis via the ‘hermeneutic spiral’. The analysis is divided into three levels: investigating the role of social enterprises in the Danish welfare society; their organizational conditions; and what vulnerable people achieve from being affiliated to a social enterprise. The first part of the analysis shows that social enterprises create a new social space in-between the fields of business, social work and employment. While the importance of having a ‘real job’ is still misrecognised as a form of symbolic capital, the social enterprises try to redefine the principles of differentiation in the employment field, so that even a poor working capacity is sufficient to enter the labour market. In the second part of the analysis, we identify some external conditions that the social enterprises are subject to. In addition to this, we examine how the social space in three selected enterprises is organised in order to consider the challenges of their vulnerable employees and put their resources into play. We conclude that business and social work are two contradictory but also interrelated logics inside the social enterprise. Thus, it is crucial to find the right balance in-between. In the third part of the analysis, we find that the vulnerable employees, dealing with problems of mental health and drug abuse, achieve recognition through their work in a social enterprise. At the same time, their possession of social and cultural capital is enhanced and their habitus is positively affected. Even though this change is part of a prolonged process, their position in the field of employment can be improved, while their life quality is enhanced. We therefore conclude that – in the right combination of business and social work – social enterprises can act as an alternative form of employment as well as a stepping stone to regular employment for vulnerable people

Roskilde Universitet

Mellem forretning og socialt ansvar: En analyse af hvordan socialøkonomiske virksomheder kan forbedre udsatte borgeres position og muligheder på arbejdsmarkedet

Mellem forretning og socialt ansvar: En analyse af hvordan socialøkonomiske virksomheder kan forbedre udsatte borgeres position og muligheder på arbejdsmarkedet

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Roskilde Universitet