Blue-collar temporary agency workers’ social interactions and relations, workplace social support and occupational well-being in different work arrangements: a qualitative study of the Swedish manufacturing industry

Temporary agency work is growing in European countries. Blue-collar temporary agency workers (BC-TAWs) in the manufacturing industry are described as subject to unfavourable work conditions and low occupational well-being. While social interaction and support are important for occupational well-being, research on the impact of different work arrangements on these factors is lacking. This critical realist-informed study, employing a qualitative study design, used 24 interviews conducted at seven client organisations to explore BC-TAWs’ social interaction, support, and occupational well-being in different work arrangements. Our findings show that different work arrangements either promote or hinder social interaction and support. Social support and interaction between BC-TAWs and other workers within semi- and non-Tayloristic work arrangements were associated with favouring occupational well-being, whereas counter-supportive social interaction within Tayloristic work arrangements was associated with impairing occupational well-being. This knowledge is important for both temporary work agencies and industrial client organisations to improve occupational well-being and mitigate negative health and safety consequences, particularly within Tayloristic arrangements, with less social interaction.