Becoming Job-Ready? Narratives of Local Welfare-to-Work Programs and Client Experiences Across Differing Economic Contexts in California

Lanfranconi, Lucia; Das, Aditi; Subaran, Joy; Malagon, Patricia (2022). Becoming Job-Ready? Narratives of Local Welfare-to-Work Programs and Client Experiences Across Differing Economic Contexts in California Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services, 103(4), pp. 408-421. Sage 10.1177/10443894211048451

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Previous research on welfare-to-work exits has focused on individual client characteristics rather than local economic contexts. Drawing on a qualitative comparative case study design, this study enhances our understanding on how welfare-to-work organizational narratives and client experiences of becoming job-ready are shaped across two different economic contexts. In the disadvantaged economic context, a punitive welfare-to-work narrative is operational resulting in clients accepting precarious work. In the more privileged economic context, the individual responsibility narrative dominates as clients struggle to make ends meet. Our findings highlight how regional economic factors shape organizational narratives and impel clients to accept precarious low wage working conditions and unstable housing. Thus, there is a need for alternatives to welfare-to-work, such as unconditional, Universal Basic Income

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	Business School > Institute for New Work Business School > Institute for New Work > Diversity and Inclusion Business School
Name:	Lanfranconi, Lucia0000-0002-5997-7698; Das, Aditi; Subaran, Joy and Malagon, Patricia
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
ISSN:	1044-3894
Publisher:	Sage
Language:	English
Submitter:	Lucia Lanfranconi
Date Deposited:	22 Aug 2024 16:21
Last Modified:	22 Aug 2024 16:21
Publisher DOI:	10.1177/10443894211048451
ARBOR DOI:	10.24451/arbor.22228
URI:	https://arbor.bfh.ch/id/eprint/22228