Macropsychology for Decent Work: Sustainable Livelihood

Moving the boundaries of I-O, or of work itself?

“…I-O psychologists are already prioritizing alternative conceptualizations such as decent work (e.g., Blustein et al, 2016; Ferraro et al, 2018) and sustainable livelihoods (Carr et al, 2021; DiFabio, 2017; Haar et al, 2018). These broader and more inclusive alternatives allow greater flexibility to adapt with the changing nature of work, thinking more holistically about what it means to work.…”

“…Work can potentially regenerate an ecosystem, for example by executing work through a truck powered with green hydrogen instead of diesel or through building carbon offsetting into workforce planning. Hence, in addition to inclusion of alternative forms of work, future conceptualizations of work will need to fundamentally rethink the way work is organized to reflect its carbon intensity, contributions to society, and so forth (Aust et al, 2020; Carr et al, 2023).…”

“…It is encouraging that over the past 15 years, increasingly, I-O research and practice have been used as a force for good, including by linking with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Those who wish to read about or expand their work into this area can choose from numerous publications in the field of humanitarian work psychology (HWP; e.g., Blustein & Flores, 2023; Carr et al, 2012, 2023; McWha-Hermann et al, 2015; Olson-Buchanan et al, 2013; Reichman, 2014). There are also countless special issues and many influential papers that are too numerous to list here.…”

From indecent work to sustainable livelihoods in the age of the Anthropocene

“…Work must be decent and protective of the environment to provide genuinely sustainable livelihoods for contemporary workers, their families, and generations to come (Carr et al, 2023). Livelihoods are much greater than just a job, 'a livelihood comprises people, their capabilities, and their means of living, including food, income and assets … A livelihood is environmentally sustainable when it maintains or enhances the local and global assets on which livelihoods depend and has net beneficial effects on other livelihoods.…”

Innovative behaviors and eudaimonic well-being: The contribution of human capital sustainability leadership to sustainable career, decent work, decent lives, and healthy lives

“…In the 21st century, workers face numerous global challenges to manage their careers (Blustein et al, 2019b), including the rise of precarious work, the global spread of the pandemic virus, the outbreak of wars, and the adverse effects of climate change on health. These challenges have detrimental psychological consequences at both the macro-level (social and economic) and the microlevel (communities, organizations, and individuals) (Carr et al, 2012(Carr et al, , 2021Leka & Furnham, 2023) and threaten the stability and sustainability of workers' careers (Guichard, 2022). In turn, workers' individual and organizational well-being is endangered (Blustein et al, 2019a(Blustein et al, , 2019bPeiró et al, 2019).…”