A ‘place-based’ approach to work and employment: The end of reciprocity for ordinary working families and ‘giggers’ in a place

Ian Clark,Chris Lawton,Tom Vickers,Clifford Stevenson,David Dahill

doi:10.1177/0143831x20946374

Abstract

The authors define ‘place basing’ as the study of work and employment in a particular place. They are interested in understanding the limitations of work opportunities therein and so focus on workers and jobs that are not subject to the threat of off-shoring or relocation elsewhere but which are low paid and insecure. The authors theorize three contributions to new knowledge that flow from a place-based study of work and employment by demonstrating how precarious flexible often zero hour work eschews reciprocity between employer and employees and workers. They focus their research on ordinary working families and the ‘permissive visibility’ of bad work. The research points to an idealized model of individual and family economic functioning that is able to cope with physical and mental challenges individually without burdening the state. As the findings on workers and households demonstrate, this ideal is far from the reality they experience.

Highlights

Employers, regulators and the government each claim to be in favour of ‘good work’
In 2020 the research question we ask is why work and employment as a reciprocal relationship is so hard to achieve? Can we look at the issue in an alternative meaningful and impactful way? In this article, we outline a place-based approach to work and employment
We look at Nottingham as a place-based test locality for licensing in specific sectors where labour exploitation is significant, for example, ride-hailing services and private hire taxi sectors; that is, can the city enact regulation? Part five provides a discussion of and a conclusion on our contributions to new knowledge and place-based research

Summary

Introduction

Regulators and the government each claim to be in favour of ‘good work’. Britain’s government is committed to deliver the United Nations sustainable development goal and deliver decent work – full and productive employment for all by 2030.1 whilst in favour of good work, many employers engage employees and Economic and Industrial Democracy 00(0)workers who suffer irregular and long working hours, insecure employment status and have little opportunity for participation and voice in the management and organization of their work. We outline the methodologies that enable us to understand the costs of precarious work for ordinary working families and ‘gig’ workers in a place by presenting labour market data on Nottingham.

Results

Conclusion