Police, Organization, and Wellbeing: An Ethnography

The book explores the role of social relations in constructing, mobilizing, consuming, and reconstructing meaning about wellbeing in police organizations in England and Wales. It addresses the concept of wellbeing as an issue that needs to be understood intersubjectively by attending to the underlying social issues that shape how it is promoted or denied. The book traverses ethnographic data and captures insights from individuals across the organization's hierarchy, revealing ideological-laden tensions in terms of wellbeing constructions. It will be of interest to academics, researchers, and students in policing, criminology, criminal justice, leadership/management, organizational behavior, and wellbeing, as well as non-academics, including police officers and leaders, public servants, private organizations, policymakers, and human resources professionals.

Format: Hardback
Length: 132 pages
Publication date: 14 October 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating book delves into the intricate interplay of social relations in shaping the construction, mobilization, consumption, and reconstruction of meaning surrounding the concept of wellbeing within a police organization in England. Wellbeing, as a powerful and institutionalized concept, holds a significant place in police organizations across England and Wales. With the emergence of numerous policies, strategies, and practices that explicitly and implicitly address wellbeing in the workplace, the concept has gained prominence. Wellbeing is approached as a multifaceted issue that requires an intersubjective understanding, recognizing the underlying social factors that shape its promotion or denial.

The book embarks on a theoretical exploration of police culture and wellbeing, providing a foundation for the subsequent ethnographic data analysis. Through vivid and insightful narratives, it captures the perspectives of individuals across the organizational hierarchy, shedding light on their perceptions of wellbeing and the ways in which they make sense of this concept. The book unveils discernible ideological-laden tensions that exist within the hierarchy, highlighting the diverse constructions of wellbeing and their profound implications for practice.

By delving into these tensions, the book offers a valuable opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the constructions of wellbeing and their impact on individuals, organizations, and society as a whole. This insightful work appeals to a wide range of scholars, researchers, and students interested in policing, criminology, criminal justice, leadership/management, organizational behavior, and wellbeing. Its empirical focus and practical applications make it particularly valuable to practitioners, including police officers and leaders, public servants, private organizations, policymakers, and human resources professionals.

In conclusion, this book is a groundbreaking contribution to the field of policing, offering a comprehensive and nuanced exploration of the role of social relations in shaping wellbeing within a police organization. It sheds light on the complex dynamics that underpin the construction, mobilization, consumption, and reconstruction of meaning surrounding wellbeing, providing valuable insights for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers alike.

Weight: 430g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367721381