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This article presents an empirical evaluation of the human resources management (HRM) effectiveness in relation to quality of labor and quality of care in older people's and nursing homes. The authors suggest that innovative policies, in terms of HRM and work design, increase the likelihood of lower stress rates and higher scores on quality of care. The data supply little empirical evidence for this hypothesis, which means that innovative policy practices have very little effect on the realities of stress, burnout, and individually tailored care. A question that arises from this is whether the search for best practices is then equal to a measure for nothing. This is not the authors' opinion. The reference framework for research must be turned round. This can be achieved by no longer starting from the normative (practice) theory but starting instead with excellent practice, which can teach researchers important content and policy lessons.

This article presents the results of empirical research on best practices in relation to quality of labour in two sectors of welfare work: the residential care for the elderly and the residential youth welfare work. Two basic hypotheses have been formulated. First of all, we suggest that few regulation problems and several regulation opportunities will lead to reduced stress. Secondly, we suggest that innovative policies, in terms of organisation and personnel, increase the likelihood of lower stress rates. The data supplies little empirical evidence for the second hypothesis, which means that innovative policy practices have very little effect on the realities of stress. An important conclusion which puts so called 'good news' shows concerning innovation and management into perspective. A question which arises from this is whether our search for 'best practices' is then equal to a measure for 'nothing'? This is not our opinion. The reference framework for our research must be turned round. This can be achieved by no longer starting from the normative (practice) theory, but starting instead with 'excellent' practice, which can teach us important content and policy lessons. The data suggests in this respect that good management and healthy mutual work relationships contribute to the foremost quality conditions within the context of an intra-mural care setting.