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Re-engagement with the employee participation debate: beyond the case of contested and captured terrain

This e-special issue showcases employee participation research published in Work, Employment and Society over the last few decades. The editorial introduction provides an overarching review of the literature and also sets an agenda for future research. In particular, this article is concerned with the question of whether employee participation really brings employees increased voice and well-being, or whether it is simply an agenda that promotes the interests of employers. The article examines the evolution of employee participation and variation in its meanings and forms, and discusses research focused on its antecedents and outcomes. The paradox in the evolution of employee participation, and the mixed findings of outcomes, especially those from the perspectives of employees, highlights a need for interdisciplinary re-examination of the legitimacy of employee participation – when and how it works well for both employers and employees in changing organizational and societal contexts – and suggests looking beyond the conventional debate of contested versus captured terrain.