Early Career Workshop on the Sociology of Work and Wellbeing
A BSA Early Career Forum Regional Event
18 September 2026
Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford, UK
About the Event
The event will be an Early Career Researcher (ECR) paper development workshop on the theme: ‘The Sociology of Work and Wellbeing’. Hosted at Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford, home of the Wellbeing Research Centre, this workshop will host up to 25 ECRs for an opportunity to present and develop their research papers on the theme and network with other ECRs in the South of England.
The workshop will explore how to revitalise sociological perspectives on work and wellbeing. The sociology of work has long been uniquely concerned with the question of wellbeing, more so than other fields of sociology. Yet in academic and policy debates on wellbeing, psychology, economics, and mainstream management studies dominate. Recent contributions (e.g. Tausig, 2013; Chamberlain et al., 2025) have gone some way to summarising the field as it stands now. However, several avenues remain either underexplored or disconnected from one another. This workshop will strive to enhance and strengthen the sociological voice on the topic by supporting empirical research and expanded theorisation.
The workshop will emphasise career development, including: a meet-the-editors session with the editors of leading British journals that publish the sociology of work; opportunities to network with other ECRs; and a panel or keynote with senior scholars to construct a longer-term view on the sociology of work and wellbeing.
Call for Papers
Our Call for Papers (opening soon) will encourage sociological theorising of wellbeing and a movement beyond narrow quantitative approaches to subjective wellbeing or job quality, and engage in vital questions of power, meaning, morality, justice, and identity, all with respect to working life and its impact on wellbeing. It will also explore the potential policy impact considering UK employment policy trends on job quality, economic inactivity, AI integration, working time, and productivity.
Registration
Registration for this event will open in due course.