What is a good job?
Next month sees the publication of the RSA (Royal Society of Arts) report on the Review of Modern Employment which has been commissioned by the Government. This promises to be a far-reaching. It will look at ways to ensure that the regulatory framework surrounding employment, and the support provided to businesses and workers, is keeping pace with changes in the labour market and the economy.
It will also examine how flexibility can be maintained while supporting job security and workplace rights, and whether new employment practices can be better used as an opportunity for underrepresented groups.
Some of the initial consultation has already highlighted the elements that a wide group of both manual and professional employees describe as ‘good work’. They include –
- Fair wage
- Security of employment
- Some degree of autonomy and flexibility
- Productive and useful work
- Opportunity to progress and to exercise a skill (or skills) and get better at it
One of the recent changes in the labour market is the rapid move towards a ‘gig’ economy. A ‘gig’ economy has been described it as “a labour market characterised by the prevalence of short-term contracts or freelance work, as opposed to permanent jobs”. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) recently reported that within 12 years, 50% of the workforce will be freelance. Together with the changing demographics and technology, the pace of change will only increase.
With these changes afoot, the human resources profession together with their colleagues on the senior management team, need to understand what these trends might mean for the way we engage and motivate the whole workforce. This is not just about engaging with paid employees, but also freelancers and contractors so that the resourcing and retention strategies make sense.
Why not talk to us about your organisation and how you might think about what good work looks like for you. We’d love to hear from you.
If you would like to receive a link to the report, please email me and I will send a link as soon as it is published.