2025-03-262025-03-262020https://pyxida.aueb.gr/handle/123456789/9005We explore two historically different, yet regionally connected, countries (Greece and Serbia) whose weak institutional foundations and long-term economic turbulence have left them unable to overcome crises, leading to the institutionalization of adverse working conditions. We focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and argue that the (different kinds of) crisis in the two countries has led to adverse working conditions becoming institutionalized in organizations and, therefore, less likely to change.23p.CC BY: Attribution alone 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/CrisisWorking conditionsInstitutionalizationGreeceSerbiaText