Precarious work and employment

McBride, Jo; Smith, Andrew

Abstract

The increasing polarisation of the UK labour market means that work for many is marked by low-pay, irregular and variable working hours, with limited employment protections. This chapter contextualises contemporary precarious work and explores some of the deep-rooted causes. We critically examine central issues of low-pay and in-work poverty, where some workers need a multitude of jobs to make ends meet. Zero hours contracts are seen as a defining feature of precarious work, and the chapter assesses the lived realities of such ‘flexibility’ that can create acute precarity for some workers. We then examine how trade unions, key stakeholders and policy makers can alleviate precarious work. In the closing section, a future research agenda is set out to critically explore: the experiences of precarious work, making ends meet and the implications for work-life ‘balance’, trade union strategies and ‘good work’ agendas, and potential international and comparative research.

Citation

McBride, J., & Smith, A. (2024). Precarious work and employment. In A Research Agenda for Work and Employment. Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781803929972.00017

• Online Publication Date: Jun 11, 2024
• Publication Date: Jun 11, 2024
• Deposit Date: Jun 24, 2024
• Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
• Book Title: A Research Agenda for Work and Employment
• Chapter Number: 10
• ISBN: 978 1 80392 996 5
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781803929972.00017
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2499601
• Additional Information: https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/a-research-agenda-for-work-and-employment-9781803929965.html
• Contract Date: Jun 11, 2024