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Unpredictable times: the extent, characteristics and correlates of insecure hours of work in Britain

Author

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  • Alan Felstead
  • Duncan Gallie
  • Francis Green
  • Golo Henseke

Abstract

This article presents new British evidence that suggests that cutting working hours at short notice is twice as prevalent as zero‐hours contracts and triple the number of employees are very anxious about unexpected changes to their hours of work. The pay of these employees tends to be lower, work intensity higher, line management support weaker and the threat of dismissal and job loss greater. In addition, the well‐being of these employees is lower and they are less committed to the organisations that employ them. However, the prevalence of insecure working hours is reduced by workplace level employee involvement exercised individually or through collective representation.

Suggested Citation

  • Alan Felstead & Duncan Gallie & Francis Green & Golo Henseke, 2020. "Unpredictable times: the extent, characteristics and correlates of insecure hours of work in Britain," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(1-2), pages 34-57, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:indrel:v:51:y:2020:i:1-2:p:34-57
    DOI: 10.1111/irj.12279
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Alan Felstead & Duncan Gallie & Francis Green & Golo Henseke, 2019. "Conceiving, designing and trailing a short‐form measure of job quality: a proof‐of‐concept study," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(1), pages 2-19, January.
    2. Caroline Murphy & Thomas Turner & Michelle O'Sullivan & Juliet MacMahon & Jonathan Lavelle & Lorraine Ryan & Patrick Gunnigle & Mike O'Brien, 2019. "Trade Union Responses to zero hours work in Ireland," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(5-6), pages 468-485, November.
    3. Egidio Farina & Colin Green & Duncan McVicar, 2020. "Zero Hours Contracts and Their Growth," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 58(3), pages 507-531, September.
    4. Duncan Gallie & Alan Felstead & Francis Green & Hande Inanc, 2017. "The hidden face of job insecurity," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 31(1), pages 36-53, February.
    5. Maria Koumenta & Mark Williams, 2019. "An anatomy of zero‐hour contracts in the UK," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(1), pages 20-40, January.
    6. Peter Berg & Eileen Appelbaum & Tom Bailey & Arne L. Kalleberg, 2004. "Contesting Time: International Comparisons of Employee Control of Working Time," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 57(3), pages 331-349, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lukács, Bence & Antal, Miklós, 2023. "The practical feasibility of working time reduction: Do we have sufficient data?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 204(PA).
    2. Mark Williams & Senhu Wang & Maria Koumenta, 2024. "Ethnicity disparities in job control in the United Kingdom," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(1), pages 33-53, January.
    3. Duncan Gallie & Alan Felstead & Francis Green & Golo Henseke, 2021. "Inequality at work and employees' perceptions of organisational fairness," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(6), pages 550-568, November.
    4. Tom Hunt & Harry Pickard, 2022. "Harder, better, faster, stronger? Work intensity and ‘good work’ in the United Kingdom," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(3), pages 189-206, May.
    5. Alison Preston & Robert E. Wright, 2020. "Exploring the gender difference in multiple job holding," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(4), pages 301-328, July.
    6. McGinnity, Frances & Russell, Helen & Privalko, Ivan & Enright, Shannen & O'Brien, Doireann, 2021. "Monitoring decent work in Ireland," Research Series, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number BKMNEXT414.
    7. Annie Irvine & Nikolas Rose, 2024. "How Does Precarious Employment Affect Mental Health? A Scoping Review and Thematic Synthesis of Qualitative Evidence from Western Economies," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 38(2), pages 418-441, April.

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