Trabajo con dignidad: the struggle for workplace dignity in the US agricultural fields

Purpose Acts of recognition are recommended by management literature to mitigate workplace indignities. This article critically examines common acts of recognition and highlights the specific implications these have on Latinx farmworkers in the United States, an understudied population in the management literature. Design/methodology/approach Due to the vulnerability of Latinx farmworkers, the study employed a culturally relevant method called plática to facilitate intimate conversations with 12 farmworkers. In addition to interviews, the researcher engaged in participant observation by joining farmworkers in protests and working alongside them in the fields. Data analysis followed an interpretivist approach, coding interview transcripts to identify emerging themes. Findings The results of this qualitative study provide researchers and practitioners with insight into the difficulties managers face in addressing workplace dignity. Critically, this research sheds light on the specific issues the Latinx farmworkers face in the US and the practical dangers of implementing acts of recognition to remediate workplace indignities. Originality/value This article is the first to examine remediated dignity in the context of US agricultural fields with Latinx farmworkers.