Temporary agency work is growing in European countries. Blue-collar temporary agency workers (BC-TAWs) in the manufacturing industry are described as subject to unfavourable work conditions and low occupational well-being. While social interaction and support are important for occupational well-being, research on the impact of different work arrangements on these factors is lacking. This critical realist-informed study, employing a qualitative study design, used 24 interviews conducted at seven client organisations to explore BC-TAWs’ social interaction, support, and occupational well-being in different work arrangements. Our findings show that different work arrangements either promote or hinder social interaction and support. Social support and interaction between BC-TAWs and other workers within semi- and non-Tayloristic work arrangements were associated with favouring occupational well-being, whereas counter-supportive social interaction within Tayloristic work arrangements was associated with impairing occupational well-being. This knowledge is important for both temporary work agencies and industrial client organisations to improve occupational well-being and mitigate negative health and safety consequences, particularly within Tayloristic arrangements, with less social interaction.
- Blue-collar temporary agency workers’ social interactions and relations, workplace social support and occupational well-being in different work arrangements: a qualitative study of the Swedish manufacturing industry
- Andreas Kjörling - University of GävleTuukka Kaidesoja - University of Eastern FinlandEva L. Bergsten - University of Gävle
- Cogent Psychology, Vol.13(1), p.2636330
- Taylor & Francis Group
- © 2026 the Author(s). Published by Informa UK limited, trading as taylor & Francis group. This is an open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), whichpermits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. the terms on which this article has beenpublished allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.
- Center for Wellbeing, Welfare and Happiness
- English
- Journal article
