HOW HUMAN RESOURCES MAINTAIN LEGITIMACY IN WORK ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT A qualitative research about how Human Resources navigate challenges in organisational and social work environment

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to investigate how Human Resources within the private sector in Sweden, maintain legitimacy in the work environment management and to what extent the legislation is supportive. Further, how HR navigates challenges in the work environment management will be investigated. Theory: The theoretical framework in the research is based on Institutional theory by Scott (2014) and the concepts “Best Practice” and “Best fit”. Method: The methodological research design is based on a qualitative approach, and the result is based on interpretations and analysis of the empirical data from 13 semi-structured interviews with a total of 15 Human Resource professionals and managers within nine different large companies. Result: The empirical finding demonstrates how Human Resources maintain legitimacy within organisations for the work environment management. Human Resources transform the legislation into comprehensible information and useful tools for the entire organisation, particularly for managers who perform the work environment management. The finding shows that Human Resources add value to the core business and are close to top management and managers and provide with situational support.