The Changing boundaries of employment relationships: fragmentation, fissures, new ‘labels’: How do we now analyse and regulate those at work?
Abstract
This article explores the diversification of employment relationships in recent decades and the shifting boundaries between various groups in labour markets. It notes the various pressures for change but also the growing insecurities for many. The implications of shifting boundaries raise critical issues for policy development, work management and labour market effectiveness. Despite an active social agenda at EU and member state level, reinforced by social partners and legal interventions, major issues remain, some, arguably, intensifying. These include questions of liability and accountability where harm us caused through work. The article then focuses on developments in the UK through its common law legal system which has led to some improvements but at the expense of a coherent and reasoned underpinning. For example, what essentially differentiates the employee from the self-employed/freelancer? Many uncertainties have often left the management of people at work imprecise and problematic.
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