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Regulation and the future of work: The employment relationship as an innovation facilitator

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  • Antonio ALOISI
  • Valerio DE STEFANO

Abstract

Digital transformation and the reorganization of the firm have given rise to new forms of work that diverge significantly from the standard employment relationship. Advocates of digital disruption suggest that the existing legal framework cannot accommodate “innovative” working templates and business models. This article, however, argues that labour regulation can continue to facilitate innovation, presenting the employment relationship as a flexible instrument, and standard forms of employment as the means of achieving efficiencies and cost advantages. First, they allow for the full exercise of managerial prerogative and attendant internal flexibility in workforce deployment, and, second, they constitute an effective device to deliver training and develop skills.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonio ALOISI & Valerio DE STEFANO, 2020. "Regulation and the future of work: The employment relationship as an innovation facilitator," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 159(1), pages 47-69, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:intlab:v:159:y:2020:i:1:p:47-69
    DOI: 10.1111/ilr.12160
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    2. Paola Tubaro & Antonio A. Casilli & Marion Coville, 2020. "The trainer, the verifier, the imitator: Three ways in which human platform workers support artificial intelligence," Post-Print hal-02554196, HAL.
    3. Jacek Lewkowicz & Anna Lewczuk, 2022. "Innovation through Collaboration," Journal of Economics / Ekonomicky casopis, Institute of Economic Research, Slovak Academy of Sciences, vol. 70(1), pages 36-56, January.
    4. Julie M É Garneau & Sara Pérez-Lauzon & Christian Lévesque, 2023. "Digitalisation of work in aerospace manufacturing: expanding union frames and repertoires of action in Belgium, Canada and Denmark," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 29(1), pages 139-154, February.
    5. Bakyt Beknazarov & Roza Niyazbekova & Ussen Amirseitov & Aiganym Kokenova & Marzhan Daurbayeva & Madina Aitkazina, 2020. "Development of entrepreneurship and forms of self-employment in the innovative sectors of the economy," Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, VsI Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center, vol. 8(2), pages 209-228, December.
    6. Jenny HAHS & Ulrich MÜCKENBERGER, 2022. "Segmenting and equalizing narratives in the ILO's standard‐setting practice," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 161(4), pages 635-655, December.
    7. Valerio DE STEFANO, 2021. "Not as simple as it seems: The ILO and the personal scope of international labour standards," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 160(3), pages 387-406, September.
    8. Melián-González, Santiago, 2022. "Gig economy delivery services versus professional service companies: Consumers’ perceptions of food-delivery services," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    9. Rolf, Steven & O'Reilly, Jacqueline & Meryon, Marc, 2022. "Towards privatized social and employment protections in the platform economy? Evidence from the UK courier sector," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(5).
    10. Romanus Osabohien & Haoma Worgwu & Syed Kashif Rafi & Oluwasogo Adediran & Oluwatoyin Matthew & Busayo Aderounmu, 2022. "Impact of business innovation on future employment in Nigeria," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(8), pages 3795-3806, December.
    11. Norlander, Peter & Erickson, Christopher, 2022. "The Role of Institutions in Job Teleworkability Before and After the Covid-19 Pandemic," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1172, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    12. Julieta Haidar, 2023. "The multidimensional configuration of platform work: A mixed-methods analysis of the Argentinian case," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 44(4), pages 938-963, November.
    13. Moshfique Uddin & Anup Chowdhury & Geoffrey Wood, 2022. "The resilience of the British and European goods industry: Challenge of Brexit," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 31(4), pages 934-954.

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