This book examines employee welfare in British and German companies from the 19th century through to the present day. Tracing the history of employee welfare, this comparative study reveals new issues beyond the dominant focus on the welfare state, showing that companies are an integral part of...

Introduction -- Self-interest and pocket-book attitudes -- Beneficial involvement -- Rising demands and ungovernability -- Legitimation crisis: value for meaning -- The welfare backlash and a rational opposition -- Entrenched interests and 'varieties of capitalism' -- Policy reforms: designing...