Routledge Studies in Employment Relations – serie

This is the era of flexibility. Under constant pressure to be adaptable, organizations increasingly adopt employment practices such as zero-hours contracts, the casualization of the workforce and the use of temporary and agency labour. These flexible practices are central to debates about the changing nature of job quality and its causes, trends and consequences.Arguing that job quality is central to understanding contemporary work, this book explores the internal and external pressures for flexibility in workplaces, professions and sectors and how this pressure shapes workers’ experiences of job quality. By studying job quality dynamics via case studies from organizations and occupations in the UK, Poland, Belgium and Sweden, the volumes illustrates the diversity of practices and experiences, as well as market pressures and institutional arrangements which effect working lives. Finally, the editors propose a policy debate on the new concept "flexiquality" - a combination of flexibility and job quality that can be beneficial for both management and workers.

The transformational technologies of the Internet-Web compound continue to exert a vast and readily apparent influence on the way we live and work. In recent times, internet penetration is now very high in most parts of the world, impacting the context and content of the workplace and the boundary between work and private life is even more porous. Not only has the reach increased, but the technologies to access the Internet-Web have further evolved towards increasing portability. The hardware evolution from desktops to laptops to mobile technologies (phones, tablets, watches, eyeglasses) marches forward. The increasing mobility and 24/7 accessibility offers the opportune time to revisit the transformations occurring. Today the Internet consists of billions of digital devices, people, services and other physical objects with the potential to seamlessly connect, interact and exchange information about themselves and their environment. Organizations now use these digital devices and physical objects to produce and consume Internet-based services. This new Internet ecosystem is commonly referred to as the Internet of People, Things and Services (IoPTS). In this follow-up to their 2006 volume, Simmers & Anandarajan examine how The Internet of People, Things and Services (IoPTS) transforms our workplaces. Information and communications technology (ICT) expansion from desktops to laptops to ubiquitous smart objects that sense and communicate directly over the internet – the IoPTS - offers us the opportune time to revisit how the Internet transforms our workplaces.

Almost a fifth of all employees work in the public sector. Employees working in the civil service, NHS, local government, education, the police and fire services also represent a large and growing body of students taking degree courses at universities. Exploring this important and rapidly changing area, this book outlines the main developments in the public sector since 1979, including topical issues such as the rise of new public management, decentralisation and contracting out. Themes which currently affect public sector employees are examined, including:* decentralization* contracting out* fragmentation and the growth of individualism in the employment contract.This stimulating, up-to-date and intellectually rigorous text is thematic, rather than sector specific, and reflects the way this subject is taught in a range of courses. It will complement alternative texts in this area and will be a valuable resource for students of public policy, public sector management, human resource management, employee and industrial relations.

Almost a fifth of all employees work in the public sector. Employees working in the civil service, NHS, local government, education, the police and fire services also represent a large and growing body of students taking degree courses at universities. Exploring this important and rapidly changing area, this book outlines the main developments in the public sector since 1979, including topical issues such as the rise of new public management, decentralisation and contracting out. Themes which currently affect public sector employees are examined, including:* decentralization* contracting out* fragmentation and the growth of individualism in the employment contract.This stimulating, up-to-date and intellectually rigorous text is thematic, rather than sector specific, and reflects the way this subject is taught in a range of courses. It will complement alternative texts in this area and will be a valuable resource for students of public policy, public sector management, human resource management, employee and industrial relations.

For the past two decades employment in Britain has been marked by a search for greater flexibility in the availability and use of labour. In recent years, however, there has been mounting concern at the costs of this trend and an appreciation that the consequence of a flexible labour market may be an insecure workforce, vulnerable to exploitation. It is also widely claimed that rising worker insecurity imposes costs on the wider economy and society through lower rates of skill formation, reduced consumer confidence and family instability.This collection of essays uniquely brings together writers from the fields of human resource management, industrial relations, social policy, sociology, economics and politics to explore the validity of these claims. Specific issues considered in the book include:* labour markets and the growth of insecure work* trade unions and the representation of insecure workers* job insecurity and personal well-being* insecurity and political behaviour.This original analysis through the outstanding essays, leads to the book’s key message: that re-building security at work should be a major concern of policy makers.

For the past two decades employment in Britain has been marked by a search for greater flexibility in the availability and use of labour. In recent years, however, there has been mounting concern at the costs of this trend and an appreciation that the consequence of a flexible labour market may be an insecure workforce, vulnerable to exploitation. It is also widely claimed that rising worker insecurity imposes costs on the wider economy and society through lower rates of skill formation, reduced consumer confidence and family instability.This collection of essays uniquely brings together writers from the fields of human resource management, industrial relations, social policy, sociology, economics and politics to explore the validity of these claims. Specific issues considered in the book include:* labour markets and the growth of insecure work* trade unions and the representation of insecure workers* job insecurity and personal well-being* insecurity and political behaviour.This original analysis through the outstanding essays, leads to the book’s key message: that re-building security at work should be a major concern of policy makers.

This original book is a wide-ranging, radical and highly innovative critique of the prevailing orthodoxies within industrial relations and human resource management. It covers:central problems in industrial relationsthe mobilization theory of collective actionthe growth of non-union workplaces and the prospects and desirability of a new labour-management social partnershipan historical account of worker collectivism, organization and militancy and state or employer counter mobilizationa critique of postmodernism and accounts of the end of the labour movementContaining a detailed examination of the evolution of industrial relations, it argues that the area is often under-theorized and influenced by the policy agenda of the state or employers, and will prove informative reading for students of industrial relations.

This original book is a wide-ranging, radical and highly innovative critique of the prevailing orthodoxies within industrial relations and human resource management. It covers:central problems in industrial relationsthe mobilization theory of collective actionthe growth of non-union workplaces and the prospects and desirability of a new labour-management social partnershipan historical account of worker collectivism, organization and militancy and state or employer counter mobilizationa critique of postmodernism and accounts of the end of the labour movementContaining a detailed examination of the evolution of industrial relations, it argues that the area is often under-theorized and influenced by the policy agenda of the state or employers, and will prove informative reading for students of industrial relations.

The book provides an up-to-date analysis of the restructuring of public service employment relations in six European countries: Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark and the UK. Each of the chapters on national systems is organized around a set of themes and policy issues including:* the impact of fiscal crises, and increasing macro-economic integration within the European Union, on the scope and organization of public services* changes in the patterns and status of public service employment* the shift from centralized administration to new models of devolved management* changes in the organization and policies of public service trade unions* reforms in the structure, process and outcome of collective bargaining* patterns of conflict and cooperation between unions, managers and the state.Written and edited by some of the country's primary authorities on public sector industrial relations, this outstanding book on this high profile field is sure to be a valuable resource for those studying this important topic.

The book provides an up-to-date analysis of the restructuring of public service employment relations in six European countries: Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark and the UK. Each of the chapters on national systems is organized around a set of themes and policy issues including:* the impact of fiscal crises, and increasing macro-economic integration within the European Union, on the scope and organization of public services* changes in the patterns and status of public service employment* the shift from centralized administration to new models of devolved management* changes in the organization and policies of public service trade unions* reforms in the structure, process and outcome of collective bargaining* patterns of conflict and cooperation between unions, managers and the state.Written and edited by some of the country's primary authorities on public sector industrial relations, this outstanding book on this high profile field is sure to be a valuable resource for those studying this important topic.

The McDonald's Corporation is not only the largest system-wide sales service in the world, it is a phenomenon in its own right, and is now recognized as the most famous brand in the world. By providing a detailed analysis of the extent to which the McDonald's Corporation adapts or imposes its labour relations policies in Europe, this volume represents a real life case study revealing the interaction between a global multi-national enterprise and the regulatory systems of a number of different European countries. Key features include: * an overview of the McDonald's Corporation's development and structure * an analysis of its corporate culture and the issues of franchising * an examination of key union strategies, including systems of co-determination, consultation and collective-bargaining* a chapter dealing specifically with European legislation, in particular the McDonald's European Works Council The author systematically analyzes the conflict between the McDonald's Corporation and the industrial relations systems of the European countries within which it operates, and exposes this conflict as an 'unequal struggle' between economic liberalism and collectivism.

Based on findings of the recently published Joseph Rowntree Report, this book provides an up-to-the-minute review of current research on flexibility, job insecurity and work intensification. It examines the impact of these developments on individuals, their families, the workplace and the long-term health of the British economy, as well as an analysis of the impact across a wide range of OECD countries including the United States, France, Germany, Sweden and Japan. Key questions addressed include:* How are jobs more insecure?* Does just-in-time labour mean more flexible contracts or more flexible workers?* Does job insecurity entail a 'new flexible morality'?* How does workplace stress affect individual health and family relationships?Timely and thought-provoking, it is essential reading for all those involved in the fields of employment relations, HRM and the sociology of work.

After many years of indifferent decline, trade union membership is now being revitalized; strategies known as ‘union organizing’ are being used to recruit and re-energize unions around the globe. This book considers exactly how trade unions are working to do this and provides a much-needed evaluation of these rebuilding strategies.By comparing historical and contemporary case studies to assess the impact of various organizing campaigns, this book assesses the progress of unions across Europe and America. It raises key debates about the organizing culture and considers the impact of recent union recognition laws on employers and the government's Fairness at Work policy.A topical and in-depth study into the experiences of trade unions across Europe and America, this is a comprehensive and thought provoking book which is essential reading for those in the industrial relations field.

After many years of indifferent decline, trade union membership is now being revitalized; strategies known as ‘union organizing’ are being used to recruit and re-energize unions around the globe. This book considers exactly how trade unions are working to do this and provides a much-needed evaluation of these rebuilding strategies.By comparing historical and contemporary case studies to assess the impact of various organizing campaigns, this book assesses the progress of unions across Europe and America. It raises key debates about the organizing culture and considers the impact of recent union recognition laws on employers and the government's Fairness at Work policy.A topical and in-depth study into the experiences of trade unions across Europe and America, this is a comprehensive and thought provoking book which is essential reading for those in the industrial relations field.

Uniquely combining employment relations and the hospitality and tourism fields, this book draws on recently published sources to give readers a comprehensive and internationally comparative perspective on the subject area. It boldly extends the traditional analysis of employment relations by integrating new topics such as the role of customers and the implication of gender at work, into the discussion. It also explores issues of continuity and change in a specific service sector, examining the industry by workplace size and sub-sector. This timely book is one of the first of its kind to consider contemporary issues such as skills shortages, labour turnover and training, as well as changes in employment protection law in different areas of the hospitality industry. This book is an invaluable resource for anyone studying hospitality and tourism, industrial relations and human resource management. It is illustrated with numerous case studies, and includes material from fifty countries, across all continents, ensuring a fully international view is presented.

Uniquely combining employment relations and the hospitality and tourism fields, this book draws on recently published sources to give readers a comprehensive and internationally comparative perspective on the subject area. It boldly extends the traditional analysis of employment relations by integrating new topics such as the role of customers and the implication of gender at work, into the discussion. It also explores issues of continuity and change in a specific service sector, examining the industry by workplace size and sub-sector. This timely book is one of the first of its kind to consider contemporary issues such as skills shortages, labour turnover and training, as well as changes in employment protection law in different areas of the hospitality industry. This book is an invaluable resource for anyone studying hospitality and tourism, industrial relations and human resource management. It is illustrated with numerous case studies, and includes material from fifty countries, across all continents, ensuring a fully international view is presented.

This thoroughly revised edition adopts a critical and theoretical perspective on remuneration policy and practices in the UK, from the decline of collective bargaining to the rise of more individualistic systems based on employee performance. It tackles the conceptual issues missing from existing texts in the field of HRM by critically examining the latest academic literature on the topic.Fully updated to cover the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development's reward syllabus, and offering a less prescriptive alternative to current texts for HR practitioners and MBA students, this new edition includes: new chapters on executive reward, pensions and benefits clear routes to assist the student reader in the journey through this complex area a strong contextual framework to enable better understanding The second edition of Reward Management is an essential read for all those studying or with an interest in human resource management, performance management and reward.

This thoroughly revised edition adopts a critical and theoretical perspective on remuneration policy and practices in the UK, from the decline of collective bargaining to the rise of more individualistic systems based on employee performance. It tackles the conceptual issues missing from existing texts in the field of HRM by critically examining the latest academic literature on the topic.Fully updated to cover the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development's reward syllabus, and offering a less prescriptive alternative to current texts for HR practitioners and MBA students, this new edition includes: new chapters on executive reward, pensions and benefits clear routes to assist the student reader in the journey through this complex area a strong contextual framework to enable better understanding The second edition of Reward Management is an essential read for all those studying or with an interest in human resource management, performance management and reward.

This is the era of flexibility. Under constant pressure to be adaptable, organizations increasingly adopt employment practices such as zero-hours contracts, the casualization of the workforce and the use of temporary and agency labour. These flexible practices are central to debates about the changing nature of job quality and its causes, trends and consequences.Arguing that job quality is central to understanding contemporary work, this book explores the internal and external pressures for flexibility in workplaces, professions and sectors and how this pressure shapes workers’ experiences of job quality. By studying job quality dynamics via case studies from organizations and occupations in the UK, Poland, Belgium and Sweden, the volumes illustrates the diversity of practices and experiences, as well as market pressures and institutional arrangements which effect working lives. Finally, the editors propose a policy debate on the new concept "flexiquality" - a combination of flexibility and job quality that can be beneficial for both management and workers.