Sociopolitical occurrences in recent years have, if anything, brought to the fore the close relationship between developments in the labour market and progress on the socio-econo-political terrain. The ideological divides in South Africa are especially apparent in the labour market, and these compound the basic conflict between the objectives of protecting basic worker rights on the one hand, and increasing economic growth on the other. The South African labour market contains an abundance of information about labour markets in general and the South African labour market in particular. The South African labour market has a down-to-earth and practical approach. It considers the evidence and identifies some urgent discussion points about the sensitivity of employment to economic growth. Three appendix chapters deal extensively with the impact of globalisation on the labour market, how other countries have managed the challenges of globalisation, and consensus-seeking institutions such as Nedlac. Questions and study suggestions are included at the end of each chapter. The South African labour market is aimed at economics students as well as general readers wanting an overview of the South African labour market. The late Dr Frans Barker was a senior executive at the Chamber of Mines. During his career, he was also vice-president of the Economic Society of South Africa and president of the Industrial Relations Association of South Africa. He served on governing structures of Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), was a commissioner for the Commission for Employment Equity and was also involved in Nedlac in various roles. Dr Barker lectured at a number of universities and was the author of several publications related to labour issues. Derek Yu is an associate professor at the Department of Economics at the University of the Western Cape. He has a decade of teaching experience in undergraduate and postgraduate Labour Economics, and has published comprehensively in this area. He is also the author of the first edition of Basic mathematics for economics students: theory and applications. Pietman Roos has a decade's experience in different civil society organisations including national government, news media and organised business. He has worked on economic policy formulation, commentary, negotiation and advocacy, and has lectured undergraduate economics and jurisprudence.

This book examines pressures for convergence and divergence in contemporary societies focusing on the rapidly changing relationship betwen work and welfare. The countries selected for in-depth comparative analysis are Germany, Spain, Sweden and the UK, each representative of different labour market and welfare regimes. Beginning with an overview of those departmenst in the post-second world war period which shed light on the different social and institutional structures, economic directions and policy orientations of the countries concerned, the book goes on to explore changing patterns of work and employment in particular in relation to labour market reforms, new forms of production and women's participation in paid work. In its last section, it looks at current issues of social policy in Europe, including gender and poverty. Integrating material from sociological perspectives on work and employment with comparative welfare analysis, feminist critiques and recent debates on social exclusion, the book will be of particular relevance and usefulness to students of European Studies, Sociology and Social Policy.

Copywriter: include this in European/French History rather than British This is a comparative study of national labour movements in France and Britain during the First World War. Historians of labour in this period have concentrated on pacifism, and on the post-war radicalism and emergent communism to which that contributed. John N. Horne focuses instead on the majorities in both the French and the British labour movements which continued to support the war to its end. He examines the terms of their support, and the broader working-class experience which this reflected, showing how a critical programme of socialist reforms was gradually developed. Labour at War is a genuinely comparative analysis, based on intensive primary research in both countries. It is an important contribution both to labour history, and to the social and political history of the First World War.

Much is stated and written about the new world of work but how much do we know about the contemporary workplace? What influence have Japanese management techniques (Just-in-Time Production and Total Quality Management, for example) had on the way work is organized in `transplants', and more broadly in other firms and sectors? Have the systems and mechanisms of control changed radically in recent years, or are they much the same as they have always been? Rick Delbridge sought an answer to these questions at first hand by working on the shopfloor in a Japanese consumer electronics transplant and a European automotive components supplier in order to witness and experience life on the line in contemporary manufacturing. His book is in a long tradition of ethnographic research in industrial sociology and management/labour studies. Not only does he offer rich empirical data on the lived reality of work and a management practice that may share little in common with that found in the textbooks; he also raises a number of important issues about the best ways to understand the complex and changing nature of work. The book will be essential reading for those wishing to understand the reality of the contemporary workplace, the diffusion of Japanese management practices, and the various influences brought to bear on the organization of work.

Arguably sociology's first classic and one of Durkheim's major works, The Division of Labour in Society studies the nature of social solidarity, exploring the ties that bind one person to the next so as to hold society together in conditions of modernity. In this revised and updated second edition, leading Durkheim scholar Steven Lukes' new introduction builds upon Lewis Coser's original - which places the work in its intellectual and historical context and pinpoints its central ideas and arguments - by focusing on the text's significance for how we ought to think sociologically about some central problems that face us today. For example: What does this text have to tell us about modernity and individualism? In what ways does it offer a distinctive critique of the ills of capitalism? With helpful introductions and learning features this remains an indispensable companion for students of sociology. A refreshed translation of one of the key works in the sociological canon, this new edition carefully guides students through the text, critically engaging with Durkheim's writing while clearly explaining his original argument. Additional material and a new introduction by Steven Lukes make this essential reading for scholars and students alike.

Contingent Workers' Voice in Southern Europe investigates the manifold challenges posed by the continued expansion of the platform economy, the rise of non-standard forms of employment, and the diversification of work identities. Leading authors explore the potentialities and barriers for collective protection and representation of contingent workers in the platform economy, based on the experiences, needs, and aspirations of workers in Italy and Spain. Chapters undertake in-depth analyses of a diverse and innovative variety of initiatives for the protection, organization, and representation of contingent workers. The book ultimately constructs a framework to interpret the evolution of contingent workers' experiences, allowing trade unions, social movements, and cooperatives to develop organizational and representative practices that better respond to their needs. This incisive book will be of interest to researchers and advanced students of sociology, international relations, political science, and labour law. Its practical insights will also enable trade unionists, activists, and policymakers in the field of labour relations to make informed decisions and identify possible avenues for development.

Elgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences, business and law, expertly written by the world's leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise and lucid surveys of the substantive and policy issues associated with discrete subject areas. This Advanced Introduction examines the economic, social, and political conditions that have shaped the 21st century workplace in wealthy democracies, highlighting the changes in work since the 1970s which have produced the 'new economy'. Amy S. Wharton illuminates important aspects of today's workplace, including the service economy, customer-facing jobs, the transformative effects of digital platforms, and the 'opening' of the employment relationship. Key Features: Analysis of algorithms and the gig economy in the broader context of workplace change Insight into the interconnections between gender, work, and family, as well as the sources of stability and change in these relations over time Understanding changes in the spatial, physical, and temporal aspects of work and their impacts on workers and families Foregrounds inequality, using the intersectional lenses of race, class, gender, and citizenship to explore this issue Revealing the continuities and discontinuities between the workplace of the past and the present, this Advanced Introduction will be a valuable guide for sociology researchers and advanced students. Business scholars, students and leaders will also benefit from its discussion of platform-based service work and the rise of nonstandard, contingent, and temporary jobs.

This book considers what work and retirement mean for older women, how each is experienced, and how working fits with other facets of their lives. The authors draw on data collected from women themselves, employers, industry stakeholders and older workers' advocates, to explore older women's experiences of work and retirement against a backdrop of current policy efforts to extend working lives in response to ageing societies. Contrary to common representations of the situation of older workers, the data reveal how workplaces can be seen as relatively benign, and retirement viewed positively. It contributes to academic debate regarding identity, purpose and meaning in later life, identifying challenges for work-focused public policy. Students and scholars of human resource management, sociology, gerontology and social policy will appreciate the extension of understanding older women's life course trajectories that the book offers. Public policy-makers will benefit from the different representations of older women in the book, and the identification of where they would benefit from policy changes.

Why do professionals keep attending face-to-face industry gatherings when digitization offers cheap, fast and time-saving technological solutions for professional interactions? This book sets out to explain such a phenomenon by analysing the reasons why professionals go to professional events, the role of events on individual careers and the way events can be instrumental in structuring emerging professions and (re)affirming stable, shared professional identities. Showcasing original research on the role of events in the structuration of careers and professions, this book focuses on professional events as a lens to analyse the transformations of professional worlds. It highlights the explanatory effect of career stage on event participation and use and the way events craft sociability to strengthen professions and careers. Different economic sectors are explored including new business lines, such as transmedia, Fab Labs and TV show and globalizing sectors, such as, business representation, fine dining and international trade exhibitions. Mature economic sectors such as craft fairs, film festivals and the events sector itself are also analysed. Providing an empirical and multidisciplinary approach to professional events and a diversity of case studies, this book will be an ideal read for sociologists interested in business, human resources and organization.

Skills and inequality have long been a central theme in analyses of social structure and economic development. A Research Agenda for Skills and Inequality offers an insightful cross-disciplinary framework for research on how unequal living conditions form, persist and change in interplay with human skill formation and development. Drawing on prominent new advances in the field, this incisive Research Agenda builds a forward-thinking framework for research. Spanning an extensive eighteen chapters, each examining a specific but major aspect of the general theme of skills and inequality, the book provides a comprehensive overview of links between the two. Against the backdrop of established insights from related but separate fields of inquiry, including economics, sociology, demography, human resource management, political science, philosophy and psychology, the Research Agenda presents an exciting overview of recent advances in analyses of skills and inequality. Opening vistas for future research based on extensive literature reviews and new findings, this Research Agenda offers compact, ground-breaking essays for students, policy makers, and advanced researchers in many disciplines including social policy, business management, and employment relations.

Elgar Research Agendas outline the future of research in a given area. Leading scholars are given the space to explore their subject in provocative ways, and map out the potential directions of travel. They are relevant but also visionary. Providing a comprehensive, interdisciplinary overview of the gig economy from both a labour and employment perspective, this Research Agenda goes beyond the question of the employment status of platform workers. It investigates how the gig economy is changing the way people work, how the platforms' business models are spreading in our economies, and what labour and social institutions are needed to respond to the challenges that platform work raises. Covering key issues such as algorithmic management, discrimination, occupational health and safety, casual work and collective labour rights, the authors challenge the narrative that the gig economy is a set of work arrangements that cannot be regulated through existing labour legislation and governance forms. The impact of the gig economy in developing countries and the regulation of global supply changes in platform work are also addressed. With contributions from world-leading authors, this Research Agenda will be crucial reading for scholars of labour and employment law, sociologists, economists and industrial relations specialists.

This ground-breaking book investigates the work of policy professionals. They consist of political actors who, although not elected to office, are nonetheless employed to affect policy and politics on a partisan basis. Through an analysis of the influence and power they wield, this book sheds light on how the growth of this group represents a major transformation of the organization of politics and policy making in advanced democracies. Taking a comparative, longitudinal perspective, Stefan Svallfors examines a combination of rich qualitative and quantitative data from countries such as Sweden, the Netherlands, Ireland and Latvia in order to explore what skills policy professionals deploy, the motivations that drive them, and the demand and use for their skills in various organizations. He links his analysis to fundamental questions about the current state and future of democracy, demonstrating that the work of policy professionals is key to understanding how contemporary political influence and democratic accountability function. Politics for Hire will be a stimulating read for scholars and advanced students in political science, public administration, public policy and sociology. It will also provide useful insights for those working in politics and governance seeking to understand the impact and influence of policy professionals.

This timely and perceptive book addresses the issues surrounding the adequacy of old age income for future pensioners worldwide. It highlights how today's young people are confronted with the simultaneous challenges of increasing employment uncertainty and declining pension generosity - topics which are highly relevant in contemporary welfare states. This pivotal study of the relationship between the current labour market and future pensions explores the ways in which public policies relating to education, employment, and welfare work to sustain a decent living standard during retirement. Using a diverse range of comparative studies across a multitude of countries and nation-specific case studies, chapters consider the influence of institutions and social, cultural, and economic norms on public pensions and retirement saving behaviours in young adults. Providing a valuable insight into contemporary research findings, this innovative book will be essential reading for students and scholars in the areas of welfare states, labour economics, pensions, and the sociology of youth. Policymakers in these fields will also benefit from its analysis of sustainable pension policy development.

With original contributions from leading experts in the field, this cutting-edge Research Handbook combines theoretical advancement and the newest empirical research to explore the sociology of organizations as mesa-level mediators of individual and societal outcomes. Covering the major theoretical foundations of the topic, this innovative Research Handbook analyses critical and contemporary sociological theory and examines the purposes and goals of a diverse range of organizations in a variety of contexts. Chapters detail original research that investigates labour relations, ethical and sustainable environmental practices, race, gender, class, sexuality, media, religion, politics, and alternative economic models. This Research Handbook will prove an engaging and informative read for students and scholars of organization studies, labour policy, sociology, political science, economics, management, philosophy, and social psychology. With its global, interdisciplinary scope, it will also be invaluable to practitioners and policymakers working within a vast range of organizations.

Providing an insightful analysis of the key issues and significant trends relating to labour within the platform economy, this Modern Guide considers the existing comparative evidence covering all world regions. It also provides an in-depth look at digital labour platforms in their historical, economic and geographical contexts. Highlighting the diversity of experience of platform work, case studies illustrate how general trends play out, both in online and location-based labour platforms, across the globe. Chapters illustrate a need for a post-pandemic regulatory requirement of digital labour platforms at different policy levels, whilst providing a general overview of key topics. Interlinking contributions with a global scope and coverage identify the challenges faced and offer thoughtful regulatory solutions. This engaging book will be an invaluable resource for academics of labour economics, legal and business studies and sociology. It will also benefit policy makers in social and political geography and political science looking for a deeper understanding of the topic.

The challenge of including youth in the labour market is a problem which many European countries are facing. Examining the transition from education to employment, Youth, Diversity and Employment combines insights from law and the social sciences to link the challenges and specific barriers facing young and vulnerable people today. Based on original research, this book presents ways in which social protection policies in Europe can utilise the synergy between redistribution and regulations to combat economic inactivity and exclusion of young people. Drawing on the experiences of Nordic countries, which represent cases of high theoretical and political relevance, and systematically examining the significance of social regulation on the employment opportunities for young adults, this book develops an original approach to social protection policies. This book focuses on ways to strengthen the demand for the work capacity of European youth, identifying principles which will make the best progress in policy making to assist youth transitions into work. Arguing that gender, ethnicity, and disability are increasingly important factors to consider, chapters reveal how to ensure that the full use of skills that young adults have can be brought to the workforce effectively. This book will be a valuable tool for students and scholars of social policy, sociology, employment and human rights law, and cultural studies, as well as for researchers, who will find the analytical framework and new data useful for future research into youth transitions, policy, and social protection policies. Contributors include: O.M. Arnardottir, O. Backman, R. Halvorsen, M.J. Hotvedt, B. Hvinden, C. Hyggen, V. Jakobsen, K. Jokumsen, L. Kolouh-Soederlund, S. Kuivalainen, T. Lorentzen, S. Niknami, K. Nousianen, T. Olsen, E. OEsterbacka, J.G. Rice, M.A. Schoyen, L. Schroeder, M. Seeleib-Kaiser, T.F. Spreckelsen, J. Tagtstroem, R. Traustadottir, M. Ventegodt, E. Wadensjoe

This timely book addresses the key debates and challenges surrounding the future of work, covering the macro, meso and micro levels of gig work. It provides a consideration of the ways in which technology is shaping the lives of those working in the gig and digital platform economy within the 21st century. Written by leading experts in their respective fields, chapters cover a range of global issues concerning not only technology but the social relationships of gig work, management by algorithm, and how to regulate individual and collective voice in the remote gig economy. Utilising leading research and case studies from companies such as Uber and Deliveroo, the book considers what governments and the law can do to shape a better future for the worker voices and employment conditions of atypical and non-standard workers which, in turn, can help to better impact society. Missing Voice? will be a key resource for scholars and students researching employment conditions, worker and human rights, employment, and labour relations in the fields of business and human resource management, industrial relations and sociology. It will also be of interest to policy-makers, trade unions and think tanks who are interested in labour market changes and issues of worker voice and management practice in the gig economy more broadly.

Who were the women who fought back at Grunwick and Gate Gourmet? Striking Women gives a voice to the women involved as they discuss their lives, their work and their trade unions. Striking Women is centred on two industrial disputes, the famous Grunwick strike (1976-78) and the Gate Gourmet dispute that erupted in 2005. Focusing on these two events, the book explores the nature of South Asian women's contribution to the struggles for workers' rights in the UK labour market. The authors examine histories of migration and settlement of two different groups of women of South Asian origin, and how this history, their gendered, classed and racialised inclusion in the labour market, the context of industrial relations in the UK in the two periods and the nature of the trade union movement shaped the trajectories and the outcomes of the two disputes. This is the first account based on the voices of the women involved. Drawing on life/work history interviews with thirty-two women who participated in the two disputes, as well as interviews with trade union officials, archival material and employment tribunal proceedings, the authors explore the motivations, experiences and implications of these events for their political and social identities.

This illuminating book considers the roles of social partners in regulating work and welfare through corporatist arrangements in three countries - all of which have strong traditions for social partner involvement. In the comparative study of Denmark, the Netherlands and Austria, Mikkel Mailand illustrates how the frequency of tripartite agreements has either been stable or has increased since the Great Recession of 2008, in spite of challenges from trade unions' loss of power and political developments. He therefore demonstrates that social partners are still strong enough to be included in corporatist arrangements. Moreover, the book posits that economic crisis in a 30 year perspective appears a stronger explanatory factor for corporatist development than social partner strength, government strength and government ideology. Using qualitative methods to offer a nuanced insight into corporatism within these countries, Corporatism since the Great Recession will be a useful read for both academics and students in industrial relations, political economy and other social science disciplines addressing the formulation of work and welfare related policies.

Revised and extended for its second edition, Contemporary Issues in Management provides a unique up-to-date view of the 'messy reality' of the complex management dilemmas facing workers and managers in the business environment today. Using a critical approach, the authors offer original perspectives on organisational behaviour and the sociology of work. Presenting business case studies and analysis, this textbook covers a broad range of key themes, including ethical and social issues, diversity, migration, continuity and change. Chapters present research studies into diverse areas, from teleworking to apprenticeships, food production, volunteering and factory working. This fully updated second edition textbook provides: Discussions of management issues in their wider philosophical and political contexts to allow students to have a broader understanding and interpretation of how management affects complex real-life situations Original and in-depth qualitative case studies present lived experience rather than abstract 'model' or 'idealised' problems for successful application of theory Examples of a wide range of management practices gives students the necessary knowledge for a globalised perspective on work and business A critical approach to the topic, to develop students' analytical skills to recognise problems, and suggest suitable solutions Questions and further reading sections for use in teaching and self study. This textbook is an invaluable guide for those studying organisational behaviour and business management, as well as the sociology and ethnography of work and workplaces. Contributors include: S.B. Emery, S. French, L. Hamilton, M. Keleman, D. Knights, A. Mangan, D. McCabe, L. Mitchell, T. Oultram, G. Pearson, U. Salmon, L. Stringer, E. Surman, N. Taylor

On the 80th anniversary of Beveridge's report on the 'Five Giants' confronting societal progress in the 1940s, this innovative book examines the 'New Giants' confronting us today: inequality, preventable mortality, the crisis of democracy, job quality, and environmental degradation. Ian Greener uses Qualitative Comparative Analysis and cluster analysis across 24 countries to analyse which countries are the highest performing in relation to each of the New Giants, and what they have in common. The book indicates that confronting the New Giants requires more participative modes of governance, as well as a greater commitment to redistributing wealth and achieving higher levels of education. Greener also highlights how higher levels of globalization, so long as they are combined with these factors, can be compatible with confronting the New Giants. The book further considers how these factors combined in countries with lower levels of mortality in the first six months of the Covid-19 pandemic. This will be critical reading for social policy and politics scholars and policy makers interested in comparative analysis. The clear explanation of the research methods used in the book will be useful to advanced level students and researchers in the field.

In this timely book, Barbara Czarniawska and Bernward Joerges examine the hopes and fears around work and job security inspired by automation, from the original coining of the term 'robot' to the present day media fascination. Have these hopes and fears changed or do they remain the same? This discerning book investigates whether these changes in perception correlate to actual changes taking place in the field of robotics. Exploring several streams of popular culture, including ground-breaking science fiction novels and films, the impact of these globally renowned works on public opinion regarding robotics is assessed. Detailed media analysis identifies the frequency and complexity of common views that stem from the ideas found in both fiction and scientific research results disseminated by the news. Recent social science works dedicated to the study of robotziation are then reviewed, illustrating current and future debates surrounding the phenomenon of the 'robot revolution'. Robotization of Work? will be a key resource for students and scholars studying the organization of work, IT and digitalization, and cultural studies. It will also be of interest to anyone engaged with the concepts of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotization.

This Elgar Introduction provides an overview of some of the key theories that inform human resource management and employment relations as a field of study. Leading scholars in the field explore theories in the context of contemporary debates concerning policies that affect and regulate work and the management of employment, as well as the activities and experiences of actors within the employment relationship. The book is divided into three sections to capture different theoretical lenses used to reflect on HRM and ER concerns about work: systems and historical development; institutions; and people and processes. Expert contributors have drawn on extensive research experience to present a contemporary understanding of a range of theories, how they evolved, and how they might be used in the future. Essential reading for HRM, ER and management scholars and research students, this book challenges readers to reassess their thinking about the significance of theory in research and practice.

Offering new knowledge and insights into European job markets, this book explores how young men and women experience job insecurity. Focusing on the ways in which young adults deal with this by actively increasing their chances of getting a job through a variety of methods, it shows how governmental policies can be altered to reduce early job insecurity. By combining analysis of original data collected through a variety of innovative methods, the book compares the trajectories of early job insecurity in nine European countries: Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Norway, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK. It explores the differing reactions to the 2008 Great Recession and socio-economic and institutional characteristics of each country, analysing the strengths and weaknesses of different national policies. Contributions from experts in the field investigate the long-term consequences of having difficulty finding suitable and stable jobs in young adulthood, including 'scarring' in the form of weaker long-term employment prospects, lower life earnings and reduced well-being. Incorporating high-level academic research with policy recommendations, this insightful book is essential reading for advanced public policy and European studies scholars, as well as policymakers at national and European levels. Contributors include: D.S. Abebe, S. Ayllon, K.K. Bohler, M. Bussi, D. Buttler, L.A. Helbling, B. Hvinden, C. Hyggen, C. Imdorf, V. Krasteva, C. Lewis, A. McDonnell, J. O'Reilly, D. Parsanoglou, S. Sacchi, M.A. Schoyen, L.P. Shi, R. Stoilova, I. Tolgensbakk, J.S. Vedeler, A. Yfanti