[Quality of life, work management, and career planning as a primary care technology in the Unified National Health System in São Paulo State, Brazil].

This article discusses the concept of quality of life in and at work, linked to health work management based on the evaluation of a work management instrument: the Career, Job, and Wage Plan. The aim was to analyze the plan as a work management technology in primary care in the Unified National Health System (SUS). The article discusses the plan in three municipalities in São Paulo State, Brazil: São Paulo, Guarulhos, and Campinas, in compliance with guidelines issued by the National Health Council in 2006, and using a qualitative survey conducted in 2007-2008. The study presents the findings from research in eight municipalities, based on interviews with managers, users (represented by Health Councils), and health workers and health sector trade unionists. The article concludes that this is still an incipient public management policy issue, with limited command by users, trade unionists, and health workers in the target municipalities, heavily populated 'hub cities' in the health regions.