Workplace structure and governance: How do employers differ between Britain and France?

Abstract

This chapter offers a comparative analysis of the basic attributes of workplaces in Britain and France. Studies in employment relations have long recognized that these attributes are related to the practice of human resource management (HRM) and industrial relations. We pay particular attention to demographic characteristics such as size and age, to the characteristics of local managers, and to patterns of ownership and governance. We highlight striking similarities in many aspects of organizational structure, but also notable differences in some aspects of workplace governance. These similarities and differences are related to the fundamental institutional and historical characteristics of the two countries.