Precarious Work Research Articles

Inequality in Precarious Work

Inequality in Precarious Work

Linking Precarious Work to Unpaid Labor

Linking Precarious Work to Unpaid Labor

The Scarring Effect of a Prolonged School-to-Work Transition on Young People’s Future Careers and the Influence of Family Background

AbstractWithin the EU-27, Italy is one of the countries with the highest levels of inequality and intergenerational transmission of disadvantage. This paper aims to verify the effect that different conditions of vulnerability, such as a low socio-economic family background (SEB) and a prolonged period in the school-work transition, have on individuals’ future careers. The analysis is based on a dataset obtained by matching the EU-SILC data with the administrative archives of the National Institute of Social Security. We measured the determinants of the duration of the waiting time to the first job (STWT). The Cox survival function shows that growing up in a disadvantaged family context strongly increases the probability of longer STWT. We also explore the effects of this duration, combined with the family socio-economic background, on the subsequent ten years of job career. A longer STWT increases the probability of experiencing longer spells of unemployment or inactivity, leading to more precarious working conditions. The relationship is complex and non-linear, with a diminishing negative impact on career stability as STWT duration increases, especially for individuals with high SEB.

Tackling precarious work through work and organizational psychology: it’s work but not as we know it

ABSTRACT Scholarly research interest in precarious work is on the rise; however, contributions from Work and Organizational Psychology (WOP) remain in their infancy. This may be because precarious work often exists outside of traditional workplaces, which are the mainstay of WOP research and practice. Presenting a case for the importance of a WOP perspective on precarious work, we draw on historical developments on the topic and highlight key areas for WOP contribution. We illustrate the importance of a multilevel and contextualized conceptualization of precarious work, which can only be understood through multi-stakeholder collaboration (praxis). We propose a need for radical and transformative structural change, which centres on human values and highlights the subjective experiences of affected people, their families, and communities. In doing so, we aim to stimulate future WOP research and practice that impacts policy and shapes work in a way that enhances the social good.

Scrambling (for) Time: Experimental Diaries and Feminised Work

ABSTRACT This article examines a variety of diaristic experiments, in prose and comics form, that explore conditions of feminised, precarious work. It argues that, as working conditions historically associated with women become more widespread as forms of precarious, pervasive work, questions of time management, time famine, and optimisation are central to experiences of making a living. To investigate these temporal issues, the article compares two recent experimental prose diaries—‘From my Diaries (2006-2010) in Alphabetical Order’ (2014) by Sheila Heti and The Folded Clock by Heidi Julavits (2015)—and a number of diary comics first published on Instagram as part of the 2023 Hourly Comic Day. The different ways of manipulating key tenets of the diary form, dailiness and chronological sequence, are shown to explore the temporal paradoxes of feminised working conditions, as the diarists make art from life. Scrambling for time to create, the article demonstrates, prompts the writers and artists under discussion to scramble time in their artistic practices. To support this reading, the article draws on previous work on diaries as a feminised form, as well as recent discussions of the lyric diary, diary comics, and their overlaps with lyric poetry.

Cascading employment as paradigmatic form of precarious work: The case of IT agency workers in the United States

Cascading employment as paradigmatic form of precarious work: The case of IT agency workers in the United States

Characteristics and health conditions in older people who work in Mexico. A comparative analysis between cohorts and sex.

The study of the work and health of older adults is limited but relevant considering that the living and health conditions in which they age are not the best in Mexico, given the job insecurity that does not access to decent contributory pensions. To analyse the differences in the sociodemographic, labour and health conditions characteristics of two cohorts of older people aged 65 to 74 years who are employed in the labour market. Analysis of the National Study of Health and Aging in Mexico for 2001 and 2021 of sociodemographic and work characteristics and health conditions by cohort and sex. Logistic regression models, whose dependent variable was the birth cohort, were estimated. 1,115 people from 2001 and 1,189 from 2021 between 65 and 74 years old who worked the week before the study were included. By sex and cohort, findings are presented. Although the schooling of older people in the most recent cohort has increased, women face more precarious working conditions and a higher prevalence of disability.

Paid Domestic Work and Depressive Symptoms in Mexico: Results of a National Health Survey

Paid domestic work (PDW) is an important source of employment for the global female workforce. It is frequently performed under precarious working conditions and occupational risks that are often associated with depressive symptoms (DSs). Although 10% (2.2 million) of Mexican working women are paid domestic workers (PDWs), their mental health has remained understudied. This article analyzes the occurrence and factors associated with DSs in a sample of Mexican workers segmented into six workforce groups, including PDWs. A three-stage statistical analysis was performed on national health survey data from Mexico (ENSANUT 2012): 1. Tabulation of inferential statistics; 2. Multiple logistic regression modeling of DSs; 3. Postestimation of DSs prevalence. Our findings suggest a context of social disadvantages based on gender, education, and labor market segregation that manifests in PDWs having the highest adjusted prevalence of DSs (14.1%, 95%CI = 9.7–18.4). Significant differences in prevalence were observed when compared with other workforce groups, such as formal employees. Among working women, after adjusting for relevant covariates, the odds of DSs were higher among PDWs as compared with formal employees (OR = 1.65, 95%CI = 1.04–2.61). Ongoing efforts for PDW formalization should be maintained in Mexico as an employment policy and mechanism to achieve PDWs’ social well-being and mental health.

CONFLICT MEDIATION IN DIVORCE CASES WITH CHILDREN: CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PSYCHOLOGY

The article aims to discuss the contributions of Psychology to the Brazilian judicial system in cases of divorce with children up to 18 years of age. To prepare the theoretical essay, the techniques used and the challenges encountered by professionals who work with mediation practices in the judicial system were investigated through a bibliographic review in the CAPES, Scielo and Google Scholar databases, with priority given to works published between 2019 and 2023. The works, selected in accordance with the specificity of the study, provided relevant information about the reality of the psychologist who works as mediators in Brazil. The results highlight the interdisciplinary nature of their work, the scarcity of longitudinal research with a robust theoretical basis for their work, challenges in demarcating the limits, as well as highlighting the precarious working conditions to which mediators, most of whom are women, are subjected, influencing the scenario and the need for future research.

The Wrestler and His World: Precarious Workers, Post-Truth Politics, and Inauthentic Activism

In this article, I explore attempts to organize a precarious workforce in a setting that is always-already post-truth: professional wrestling. I focus in particular on a nascent, bottom-up unionization effort in the UK that foregrounds the rights of wrestlers who perform for low wages, in unsafe environments, and in the absence of both the state and traditional trade unions. I show that while many wrestlers agree with this movement’s diagnosis of problematic working conditions, there is also widespread skepticism about activists’ motivations, with many wrestlers suggesting that the organization may be telling a self-interested story about work, rather than engaging in a form of work. I argue that wrestlers’ permanent questioning emerges at the intersection of the self-appreciating, entrepreneurial subject and the post-truth, zany situation and conclude that wrestling affords insight into labor organization under employment conditions emblematic of a contemporary post-truth neoliberalism.

Surviving precarious work: differing forms, tactics and strategies

PurposeThis article explores differentiation in the responses of precarious workers to the instability and uncertainty imposed on their work by employing organizations. Our focus is on the ways in which different workers respond to precarious working conditions, with a particular interest on marginalised groups who have been especially overlooked by studies of workforce precarity.Design/methodology/approachEmploys an approach akin to grounded theory in an exploratory research design and utilizes in-depth, semi-structured interviews of 56 precarious workers.FindingsFinds that different precarious workers, with divergent characteristics and resources, facing differing working conditions, and diverse structural constraints vary in the ways in which their strategies of surviving precarious work are manifested. Uncovers three differing forms of precarious workers who each employ a different range of tactics and strategies in work.Originality/valueGenerates insights into differentiation of precarious workers in their responses to the ambiguous, challenging and, in many ways, subjugating conditions of their working conditions.

The new spirit of capitalism and artisan work: professionalization, autonomy and identity in the brewing industry

The craft beer market in Brazil has experienced significant growth over the past decade, reflecting a global trend towards craft brewing as a counterpoint to industrial standardisation and mass production. This comprehensive study explores the professionalization and identity formation within the dynamic craft beer industry, emphasising the essential role of craftsmanship and authenticity. Through qualitative interviews and participant observation, the research highlights how microbrewery owners navigate the complex challenges of the competitive market, balancing passion with precarious working conditions. The study draws on Boltanski and Chiapello's framework of the new spirit of capitalism, examining how brewers' narratives reflect broader cultural and economic shifts. Craft brewers are portrayed as innovative cultural entrepreneurs who priorieise creativity and autonomy, often at the expense of job security and financial stability. The findings suggest that the craft beer market is a site of economic activity and a space for personal expression and identity construction, where passion and practical knowledge are fundamental to building beer entrepreneurship.

Letter to the Editor: Expanding the Discourse on Decent and Precarious Work in Nursing

Letter to the Editor: Expanding the Discourse on Decent and Precarious Work in Nursing

Why the Construction Trades Have a Valuable Role in Meeting the Climate Challenge

The construction industry accounts for 18 per cent of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions. There is extensive evidence that this can be reduced significantly by implementing aggressive net zero building practices. However, the way the industry is organized impedes this achievement because it fails to promote the development of a broadly based, highly qualified, climate-literate workforce. Successful low carbon construction requires enhancement of workers’ knowledge, skills, and competencies because it requires much higher energy performance standards than traditional construction practice. Yet the industry remains wedded to the current system of low-bid, low-quality construction to cut costs. The organization of much construction work reflects a Taylorist approach, with extensive piecework and subcontracting that relies heavily on precarious, unskilled, and semi-skilled workers. Most employers avoid investing in trades training, leaving it to governments, unions, and individual workers to fund workforce development. Committed to a deregulated market with minimal government interference in their profit-making activities, many contractors oppose tougher building and energy regulations while lobbying against higher labour standards, occupational certification requirements, and union organizing. To meet their net zero targets, governments must recognize that market forces are inadequate to create the well-trained, highly skilled workforce needed. Major policy interventions are required to force industry to make the necessary changes in vocational education and training (vet) and employment practices – changes designed to upskill the construction workforce and give workers and unions a greater voice in shaping climate-informed building practice.

O TRABALHO INFORMAL, A ECONOMIA INFORMAL E OS DEFASIOS ASSOCIADOS À PRECARIZAÇÃO DO TRABALHO

The lack of effective public policies to address the precariousness of informal work has profound consequences, including increased social inequality, economic vulnerability, and the violation of labor rights. This issue is relevant not only from an economic point of view, but also from a legal and social point of view, as it involves the protection of fundamental human rights, such as the right to decent work and social protection. By critically analyzing existing legislation, identifying gaps, and proposing new legislative approaches, the survey can offer valuable insights for the formulation of more effective public policies and for strengthening the legal framework for the protection of informal workers. Additionally, by considering the nuances and complexities of the legal issues involved, research can help develop more sophisticated and relevant legal theories and concepts to address emerging labor market challenges. Although there is a vast academic literature on informal work and the precariousness of work, there is a significant lack of studies that address these issues from an in-depth legal perspective. The proposed research will fill this gap by providing a detailed analysis of the legal issues related to informal work and identifying concrete legal strategies to address the challenges of job insecurity. In this way, it will contribute to the advancement of legal knowledge in this area and to the development of more effective approaches to address the challenges of informal work and precariousness.

Precarious and vulnerable work: The experiences of applied sport psychologists

This article analyzes the vulnerable and precarious nature of applied sport psychology practice. Adopting a longitudinal approach over an 18-month period, data were collected through 41 semi-structured interviews with six applied sport psychologists working across soccer, swimming, and athletics. Interviews took place at 6–8 week intervals, and transcripts were iteratively analyzed with Kalleberg’s theorization of precarity and Kelchtermans’ writings around vulnerability adopted as the primary heuristic devices. Four themes were identified, highlighting how: (a) “precarious employment conditions”; (b) “constrained decision making”; (c) “challenges to demonstrating impact”; and (d) “contrasting beliefs of appropriate practice” typified practitioners’ applied experiences. Our findings and analysis advance discussions about the precarious nature of applied sport psychology work by recognizing some of the inherent structural vulnerabilities that characterize the role. Insights developed from this research have important implications for the profession, including the preparation, development, employment and ongoing support of its workforce.

New Trends of Thought in Response to Post-Pandemic Work Precariousness Among Second-Generation Romanian Citizens in Spain

Drawing on 65 in-depth interviews with young Romanians between 22 and 33 years old, the contribution of this article is to offer an innovative analysis of the work experiences of second-generation young people who, having studied and completed their degrees in Spain during the pandemic, are developing their skills and creativity in a difficult labour market. I argue that unlike their parents’ generation, who in many cases have returned home or practice mobility, this generation wishes to remain in Spain. Consequently, the (im)mobility experienced by second-generation young people has become a fundamental post-pandemic trend. Three interlinked profiles were identified: (1) young graduates doing work for which they are overqualified, who want to find better jobs; (2) young people who have completed master’s or doctoral degrees and now have their own business, are applying for research funding or are unemployed; and (3) unemployed graduates who are making a living from self-employment or aspire to have their own business. The conclusions highlight new trends of thought among young Romanians educated and trained during the pandemic in terms of how to overcome work precariousness and live in Spain.

Association of precarious employment with depressive symptoms and insomnia: Findings from the Korean Working Conditions Survey

Precarious employment (PE) is an important occupational health concern. This study aims to examine the relations between PE and depressive symptoms and insomnia in Korean workers. This study included a nationally representative sample of 49,420 adult workers. A modified version of the Employment Precariousness Scale (EPRES), which comprises six dimensions (temporariness, disempowerment, vulnerability, exercise of rights, uncertain work schedules, and wages), was used to quantify PE levels on a scale ranging from 0 to 100. PE levels were categorized into four groups based on quartile values. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the World Health Organization-5 Well-Being Index, and insomnia was assessed using the Minimal Insomnia Symptom Scale. Logistic regressions were performed, and odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated. The prevalence rates of depressive symptoms and insomnia were 10.7% and 8.4%, respectively. Compared with the lowest PE level, the highest PE levels were associated with both depressive symptoms (OR: 2.86, 95% CI: 2.61–3.14) and insomnia (OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.21–1.47). An interquartile range increase in the EPRES score was associated with a 1.84-fold (95% CI: 1.76–1.92) and 1.23-fold (95% CI: 1.17–1.29) increase in the odds of depressive symptoms and insomnia, respectively. All six individual dimensions were positively associated with depressive symptoms, whereas three dimensions—vulnerability, uncertain work schedules, and wages—were associated with insomnia. PE is a risk factor for depressive symptoms and insomnia. Policy interventions are required to safeguard mental health of precarious workers.

Trapped in Flexibility: How Does Precarious Work Affect Gender Wage Gap in China?

Rapid expansion of precarious employment carries risks of exacerbating the gender wage gap in China. This article finds an inverse relationship between flexibility and security in the labor market, disproportionately affecting women workers. Drawing from the Marxist-feminist theory of social reproduction, the study conceptualizes China’s social reproduction regime as developmentalist, characterized by ongoing tension between economic development and social reproduction. Promoting precarious work, which reflects the operational logic of the developmentalist social reproduction regime, is essentially transferring social reproduction cost from capital to labor. This cost is predominantly shouldered by precarious workers, particularly women, resulting in a widened gender wage gap. Using the China Labor-force Dynamic Survey, the study finds empirical support for the theorization that the gender wage gap among precarious workers is significantly larger than among non-precarious workers. The article proposes policies addressing the gap by shifting the cost of social reproduction from labor back to capital. HIGHLIGHTS Gender wage gap is wider among precarious workers in China. Marxist-feminist theories help us to better understand GWG in precarious work. Women in precarious work face income loss risks and heavier domestic responsibilities. Developmentalist social reproduction regime seeks to balance growth and reproduction. The cost of social reproduction should be shifted back to capital.

A critical review of literature and a conceptual framework for organising and researching urban health and community health services in low- and middle-income countries.

Low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are rapidly urbanizing, and in response to this, there is an expansion in the body of scholarship and significant policy interest in urban healthcare provision. The idea and the reality of 'urban advantage' has meant that health research in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) has disproportionately focused on health and healthcare provision in rural contexts and is yet to sufficiently engage with urban health as actively. We contend that this research and practice can benefit from a more explicit engagement with the rich conceptual understandings that have emerged in other disciplines around the urban condition. Our critical review included publications from four databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and Social Sciences Citation Index) and two CHW resource hubs. We draw upon scholarship anchored in sociology to unpack the nature and features of the urban condition; we use these theoretical insights to critically review the literature on urban community health worker programs, as a case to reflect on community health practice and urban health research in LMIC contexts. Through this analysis, we delineate key features of the urban - such as heterogeneity, secondary spaces and ties, size and density, visibility and anonymity, precarious work and living conditions, crime, and insecurity, and specifically the social location of the urban CHWs and present their implications for community health practice. We propose a conceptual framework for a distinct imagination of the urban to guide health research and practice in urban health and community health programs in the LMIC context. The framework will enable researchers and practitioners to better engage with what entails a 'community' and a 'community health program' in urban contexts.