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Delivering Flexibility: Contrasting Patterns in the French and the UK Food Processing Industry

Author

Listed:
  • Eve Caroli
  • Jérôme Gautié
  • Caroline Lloyd
  • Annie Lamanthe
  • Susan James

Abstract

This article provides a comparative analysis of changes in numerical and functional labour flexibility in the French and the UK food processing industry. Based upon case study data, it explores the interaction between competitive pressures and institutional and regulatory structures and their impact on workplace practices. The findings indicate that, faced with a similar competitive environment, firms in both countries have sought to increase labour flexibility. However, the predominant forms of flexibility vary across the two countries, partly reflecting the characteristics of national labour market institutions. Numerical flexibility dominates in the UK, with high levels of paid overtime and temporary agency work. In contrast, French workplaces rely more on internal functional flexibility while also achieving numerical flexibility through seasonal variations in work schedules and a wide range of short‐term employment contracts.

Suggested Citation

  • Eve Caroli & Jérôme Gautié & Caroline Lloyd & Annie Lamanthe & Susan James, 2010. "Delivering Flexibility: Contrasting Patterns in the French and the UK Food Processing Industry," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 48(2), pages 284-309, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:brjirl:v:48:y:2010:i:2:p:284-309
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8543.2010.00792.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Amable, Bruno, 2003. "The Diversity of Modern Capitalism," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199261147.
    2. Howell David R. & Baker Dean & Glyn Andrew & Schmitt John, 2007. "Are Protective Labor Market Institutions at the Root of Unemployment? A Critical Review of the Evidence," Capitalism and Society, De Gruyter, vol. 2(1), pages 1-73, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Gilles Grolleau & Naoufel Mzoughi & Sanja Pekovic, 2013. "Is there a relationship between workplace atmosphere and innovation activities? An empirical analysis among French firms," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(6), pages 566-580, September.
    2. Jérôme Gautié, 2010. "France: Towards the End of an Active Minimum Wage Policy?," Chapters, in: Daniel Vaughan-Whitehead (ed.), The Minimum Wage Revisited in the Enlarged EU, chapter 5, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    3. Eve Caroli & Jérôme Gautié & Annie Lamanthe, 2009. "High relative wages and high work intensity: The French food processing model in international perspective," Université Paris1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Post-Print and Working Papers) halshs-00567675, HAL.
    4. Thomas Amossé & Philippe Askenazy & Martin Chevalier & Christine Erhel & Héloïse Petit & Antoine Rebérioux, 2016. "Industrial Relations and Firms’ Reactions to the Recession: A Comparative Micro-Econometric Analysis of France and Great Britain [Relations sociales et ajustements à la crise : une analyse micro-st," Université Paris1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Post-Print and Working Papers) hal-02172455, HAL.
    5. Tony Edwards & Olga Tregaskis & David Collings & Patrice Jalette & Lourdes Susaeta, 2013. "Control over Employment Practice in Multinationals: Subsidiary Functions, Corporate Structures, and National Systems," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 66(3), pages 670-695, May.
    6. Michael Brookes & Philip James & Marian Rizov, 2018. "Employment regulation and productivity: Is there a case for deregulation?," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 39(3), pages 381-403, August.
    7. Thomas AMOSSÉ & Philippe ASKENAZY & Martin CHEVALIER & Christine ERHEL & Héloïse PETIT & Antoine REBÉRIOUX, 2019. "Industrial relations and adjustments to the crisis: A comparative micro‐statistical analysis of France and Great Britain," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 158(3), pages 463-487, September.
    8. Ryan Lorraine & Wallace Joseph, 2019. "Mutual Gains Success and Failure: Two Case Studies of Annual Hours in Ireland," The Irish Journal of Management, Sciendo, vol. 38(1), pages 26-37, December.
    9. A. Arrighetti & L. Cattani & F. Landini & A. Lasagni, 2019. "Work Flexibility and Firm Growth," Economics Department Working Papers 2019-EP04, Department of Economics, Parma University (Italy).
    10. Minjie Cai & Sian Moore & Chris Ball & Matt Flynn & Ken Mulkearn, 2022. "The role of union health and safety representatives during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A case study of the UK food processing, distribution, and retail sectors," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(4), pages 390-407, July.

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