Abstract
This article presents data from a comprehensive study of hyper flexible and precarious work in the service sector. A series of interviews were conducted with self-employed personal trainers along with more than 200 hours of participant observation within fitness centres in the UK. Analysis of the data reveals a new form of hyper flexible and precarious work that is labelled neo-villeiny in this article. Neo-villeiny is characterized by four features: bondage to the organization; payment of rent to the organization; no guarantee of any income; and extensive unpaid and speculative work that is highly beneficial to the organization. The neo-villeiny of the self-employed personal trainer offers the fitness centre all of the benefits associated with hyper flexible work, but also mitigates the detrimental outcomes associated with precarious work. The article considers the potential for adoption of this new form of hyper flexible and precarious work across the broader service sector.
Highlights
The ways that people are employed by organisations has, in recent years, undergone significant change
The neo-villeiny of the self-employed personal trainer offers the fitness centre all of the benefits associated with hyper flexible work, and mitigates the detrimental outcomes associated with precarious work
The objectives of this article are first to describe the characteristics of neo-villeiny as a contemporary work arrangement; second to illustrate this with the empirical case of self-employed personal trainers (SEPTs); and third to consider the implications of this new form of work for both the fitness industry and for the service sector more generally
Summary
The ways that people are employed by organisations has, in recent years, undergone significant change. Chief amongst these has been a global shift away from the once standard employment model characterised by full time, permanent contracts, reasonable pay levels, good job quality and prospects for career progression. And especially prevalent in the service sector, is employment based on temporary, short term, part time, informal job arrangements as well as various forms of self-employment and subcontracting (Mandl et al, 2015; ILO, 2015; OECD, 2015). In the United Kingdom there has been a large increase in ‘on-call’ work based on zero hours contracts replacing more standard types of employment (Mandl et al, 2015)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
