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This article analyzes whether and to what extent the policy environment of civil servants has an impact on their level of Public Service Motivation (PSM). It hypothesizes that public employees working in different policy domains and stages of the policy cycle are diversely motivated by four PSM orientations (Compassion, Commitment to the public interest, Self-sacrifice and Attraction to politics). The empirical results are based on a survey of 6885 Swiss civil servants. They show that those in charge of Welfare State policies are inclined to have higher levels of 'Compassion', whereas those performing core state functions report lower levels. Furthermore, employees whose main tasks are related to policy formulation display high levels of the 'Attraction to politics' dimension of PSM. This study questions the generalization of previous findings on PSM that are based on heterogeneous survey populations. Adapted from the source document.

Explores feminist policy in work and at work; the French parity reform; influence of German women parliamentarians; and French and German equal employment policy; 8 articles. Contents: Comparing feminist policy in politics and at work in France and Germany: shared European Union setting, divergent national contexts, by Amy G. Mazur and Susanne Zwingel; Parity reform in France: promises and pitfalls, by Claudie Baudino; Much ado about nothing? political representation policies and the influence of women parliamentarians in Germany, by Birgit Meyer; Equal employment policy in France: symbolic support and a mixed record, by Jacqueline Laufer; Equal employment policy in Germany: limited results and prospects for reform, by Angelika Koch; Asking fathers and employers to volunteer: a (de)tour of reconciliation policy in Germany? by Andrea Vogt and Susanne Zwingel; Europeanization and the "needle's eye": the transformation of employment policy in Germany, by Ulrike Liebert; Drawing comparative lessons from France and Germany, by Amy G. Mazur.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss the work of Bismarck in relation to social legislation.Design/methodology/approachBismarck's points of views are sketched mainly through quotations from his speeches in Parliament. His position regarding social protection is discussed and a brief evaluation of his policy is presented.FindingsGermany, through the work of Bismarck, was the first country where the state organised a modern social‐security system. Compulsory sickness, accident and old‐age insurances were passed in 1883, 1884 and 1889, respectively. However, the Chancellor's social policy was not the result of a comprehensive, global, "definitive" programme. It was an opportunist policy influenced more by political than by social motives.Originality/valueThe paper offers insights into Bismarck's social policy in the context of the social question.

Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Contents -- Figures and tables -- 1 Introduction -- 2 New policies, new words-the service concept in Scandinavian social policy -- 3 A multitude of universal, public services-how and why did four Scandinavian countries get their social care service model? -- 4 The development of local authority social services in Iceland -- 5 From poor relief to social rights and social care services' clienthood -- 6 Local government in Scandinavia: autonomous or integrated into the welfare state? -- 7 The Scandinavian model as seen from a local perspective -- 8 Why are social care services a gender issue? -- 9 The Scandinavian social service state in comparison -- Appendix: A statistical summary of the development of social services for children, elderly and disabled in the Scandinavian countries.

The creation of devolved assemblies and parliament for Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland empowered government in each country to promote equality of opportunity. This book explores the impact of this constitutional change in the UK in respect to public policy and law

peer-reviewed ; Background Social inclusion is a complex concept, and its relationship to health has been widely debated. Across the European Union, there has been a move towards policies promoting social inclusion. Despite this, there has been a limited analysis of how the concept of social inclusion is operationalised in Irish policy. The aim of this research was to document and map the development of social inclusion policies in the Irish context. The objectives were to identify all the relevant stakeholders and policies and to describe the relevance of social inclusion policy in the domain of health. Methods We utilised a widely recognised policy analysis framework. We conducted a systematic search of relevant government policies, grey literature databases, statutory agencies and stakeholders in the Irish context since 2006. The researchers initially identified a total of 954 results. Results The relevant stakeholders discovered were the research community, service providers, civil society organisations, policy makers and government, philanthropists and socially excluded people. Most policy documents included refer to one of two national policies created to drive social inclusion activities. Social inclusion was being operationalised in the context of health, but the relationship between policymakers and those planning and providing services was unclear. Conclusions The concept of social inclusion was being operationalised in the Irish policy context. A multitude of stakeholders were involved, reflecting the wide reach of this concept in society. Social inclusion was a particularly important concept in the realm of health, and in the primary care domain in particular.

AbstractDirect payments, i.e. cash payments made directly to the individual in lieu of social care services, have become an established option in council‐funded domiciliary care as a means to better personalize care and support. As part of its agenda to modernize social care, the Government tested their use in long‐term residential care in 18 trailblazing councils in England.This article presents findings from the independent evaluation of this initiative, using interviews with project leads seconded to the programme in all participating councils, and with council and care home staff involved in implementing direct payments in residential care in five sites. Interviews were conducted between September 2014 and November 2015. They explored professionals' views and experiences of personalization in residential care and their thoughts on the potential contribution of direct payments to promoting personalization. Whilst there was agreement that good care takes personal preferences into account and that many care homes could provide a more personalized service, doubts were voiced about whether direct payments were an appropriate mechanism to achieve this aim. This was seen as particularly pertinent in relation to residents with very high care needs and limited capacity to exercise choice and control. Interviewees also identified a number of risks and challenges to implementation, including financial risks to care homes. The findings from these interviews suggest that the contribution of direct payments to personalizing residential care may be more modest than expected.