Ann Bergman, professor of Working Life Science
Ann Bergman was born in Östersund in 1963. She grew up in Kilafors and has her heart in Hälsingland. She also enjoys Värmland, where she has been since 1991 when she enrolled in the Human Resource Management and Working Life Programme at the former Karlstad University College.
On graduating, Ann Bergman stayed on to work at the then existing Centre for Gender Equality and the Department of Sociology, before moving on to Working Life Science, a subject in which she earned her Doctor’s degree at Karlstad University in 2004.
Ann Bergman’s research deals with work organisations and conditions, availability for work and family, gender segregation in the workplace, power and influence, and work in the future.
”Work is a central part of people’s lives – whether they are employed or unemployed. We are categorised and ranked at work and in relation to work, which means that life chances and opportunities are linked to work in many ways. Working environment issues are also important. In some jobs people are worn out much quicker than in others. Work is also important in a wider perspective since it is a way of organising and managing the production of goods and life necessities as well as human reproduction. A well-functioning work organisation with equality for all will benefit the individual as well as society.”
Different stakeholders such as students, work organisations, trade unions, employer associations, public authorities, and many others, are interested in Ann Bergman’s research.
”Working Life Science is inherently interdisciplinary and therefore I’m used to cooperating across boundaries on many questions related to work in a wide sense.”
Ann Bergman is hoping to work on several future projects for which the department has applied for funding.
”The consequences of the digitalisation of when and how a task is performed is a project I’m looking forward to. Another is sustainability factor in customer intensive service professions with a focus on working conditions. Then I would also like to study power and participation issues in the workplace – not least from a gender perspective. The future is in itself an interesting area.”
Ann Bergman’s family consists of Christer, Ann’s son Carl and the bonus sons, Douglas and Philip. She loves nature in all its forms and easily gets lost in time and space. Because she lacks a sense of direction, she has acquired a kayak for paddling along River Klarälven – so much easier to find her way back home…