Frontlinjebyråkraten
en studie om de byråkratiska villkoren för yrkesrollen, den inomorganisatoriska kontrollen och samhällets påverkan
OrganisationskulturYrkesrollerByråkratiSociology of labourSociology of enterpriseArbetslivssociologiFöretagssociologiLaw and Political Science
The purpose of this essay was to further develop the discussion around the street-level bureaucrats and the dilemmas that they meet in their work environment. The paper will try to accomplish this by putting the spotlight on the professional role, the organizational control of the street-level bureaucrat and the effect of society on the work environment. Something that also will be discussed is the well-known difficulty of implementation of new programs and methods, especially when street-level bureaucrats are involved. The street-level bureaucrats that this paper focuses on are caseworkers within Försäkringskassan and handle benefits and take decisions about the need for rehabilitation for people who are ill and unable to work.I have used a qualitative method for this study. The empirical material consists of six interviews at two different offices.The main cause of the dilemma of the street-level bureaucrat is that there is a conflict between the human side and the professional role. This originates in the need to consider the interest of different groups, not just the clients. The study also indicates that the implementation of a new and stricter way of interpreting the law had been successful in changing the attitudes of the caseworkers.