The new concept of acceptability

1993 was a year of change — a year characterised by a newfound courage to take on board new ideas, try out different approaches, face up to awkward decisions. It was a year which saw the introduction of new developments such as the 4-day week and other innovative approaches to work organisation. The key concept of “acceptability” swept aside the rigid divisions and taboos which had hindered the finding of solutions to the employment crisis at Volkswagen. Few people imagined it would be possible to break away from the traditional response to problems whereby a minority was sacrificed in order to save the majority — which in labour market terms always means dismissing a small section of the workforce in order to be able to guarantee full employment to the remainder.