Membership in an Emerging Social Firm: A Case Study of Clients’ Perspectives

Abstract

We describe the concept of a social firm–-a business created for the employment of people with disadvantages in the labor market–-and illustrate how it can be implemented through the experience of employees who were unemployed and living on public allowances prior to commencement of the project. Our experience suggests that participating in a social firm may enable people who are dependent on public allowances to obtain employment that is suitable to their talents, to contribute financially to their household incomes, to have a place to be socially supported, to expand their social networks, and to acquire new knowledge. Implications for practice, in terms of the social firm arena and social work profession, are discussed.