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ConnectionsintheWorkplaceasaWayofAccumulatingSocialCapital…
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FromPutnam,sperspectivetheintervieweesperfectlymeetallthenecessarycondi-
tionsforaccumulatingsocialcapitalintheworkplace:mostofthemhavestayedinthe
sameworkplaceformanyyears,workfull-time,haveimpressiveemploymentrecords
andgoodeducations;theyoccupy“people”positions,andworkforpeople-oriented
employers.
Conclusion
Bywayofsummary,Ireturntothequestionsposedearlier:whatisthenatureofthesocial
capitalofPolishimmigrants,whetherconnectionsintheworkplacehelpthemaccumulate
it,whatbenefitsitbrings,andwhetherPolesbondorbridgeandwithwhom.
PolishimmigrantsintheUSAmaintaincontactwiththeirprimarygroupoffamily,
friendsandclosefriends;mostofthetimethisistheirsocialcapitalwhichtheybuiltin
Poland.OnlythosewhohavelivedintheUSAformorethanfeenyearsvaluetheir
AmericancontactsmorethantheirPolishones.Teyknowtheymaycountonhelpand
supportfromthesepeopleandtheyreciprocatethesame.However,asadtruthisthat
everythirdpersonseesnobenefitsstemmingfromthesecontacts.Terstconclusion
fromtheresearchresultsisthatPolesinAmericapreservetieswiththeirkintransnation-
ally,butonlyiftheyhavetimeforthis,andonethirdoftherespondentsdoesnot.
Secondly,Polishimmigrantsmeetallthenecessaryconditionsforaccumulating
socialcapitalintheworkplace:theyusuallyhaveoccupiedthesamepositionforalong
time,workfull-time,areemployedbypeople-orientedemployers,usuallyAmerican
companiesorindividualpeople,andarewell-educated.TeresultisthatPolesdo
makeconnectionsintheAmericanworkplace;thelongertheyworkinoneplace,the
closertherelationships.Whatismore,theworkplaceisprobablythesecondsource,
aferfamily,oftheirconnectionsintheUSA.
Tirdly,amongtheresearchedgroupthereisnosingleanswerthatwouldsuggest
thattherelationswiththeirco-workersandotherPolesatworkarebasedonnegative
competitionratherthancooperation.Tismightbebecauseintheresearchsample
thereisonlyonemanwhohasworked,duringhisentirestay,withPolesonly.Terest
workwithAmericansorinamixednationalityenvironmentincludingotherPoles;
however,respondentssaytheygetonreallywellwitheverybodyatworkandifthey
makeclosetiestheydonotpayattentiontotheirnationality.
Lastbutnotleast,Polesaccumulatesocialcapital,butitisofabonding,notbridg-
ing,type.Bridgingsocialcapitalisvaluablebutrare,thereforehardtond.AsPoles
donotofenbelongtoorganizations,theydonothavemanyopportunitiestostart
relationsofabridgingtype,thatis,withpeopleofdiferentsocial,economic,and
culturalbackgrounds.Tesendings,however,mightserveasaperfectstartingpoint
forfurtherresearchonsocialcapitalandimmigrants.
Putnamiswellawareofdisadvantagesstemmingfromsocialcapitalconnectedwith
theworkplace.Hecallsrapportsinwhich“co-workers”constituteasmallpercentof
workmates.HealsoelaboratesontheAmericanworkplaceasratherdamagingtosocial
tiesduetoeconomicrestructuring;headmitsthathehasheardofnohardevidenceto