We are each other’s working environment

The purpose of the study is to bring clarity to what impact social relations have on the working climate at the workplace. Here the focus is on the employees and their experiences as well as definitions of working environment, working climate and social relations. Since there is a problem with sick leave in society, where mostly women who work closely with people belong to the most affected occupational group, there are reasonable grounds for letting assistant nurses and preschool teachers be part in this study. Previous research and theoretical perspectives show the importance of highlighting the significance of social relations for the psychosocial working environment at the workplaces. Levi's interpretation of how employees relate to and interact with each other, as well as research on social relations in working life, have been contributing towards an increased understanding of the interpersonal relationships in working life. The synergy of the factors of enjoyment, trust, communication and community, forms the individual's experience of the working environment. A qualitative method has been applied, based on a constructivist perspective in order to capture the respondent’s experiences of social relations at the workplace. The data collection was done through semi-structured interviews with four assistant nurses and four preschool teachers. The empirical material shows that social relations have an impact on the perceived working climate and working environment and thus also the well being at the workplace. In the result, factors concerning enjoyment, trust, communication and community were highlighted. That is factors within the theoretical concept of social relations and contributes in fostering well being at the workplace