Job insecurity and social networks: a study of part-time temporary public sector workers

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Harvey, R., 2003. Job insecurity and social networks: a study of part-time temporary public sector workers. MPhil, Nottingham Trent University.

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Abstract

Job insecurity has been associated with precarious work, orgamsational change work intensification, decline of trade union power, the introduction of new forms of technology into the workplace and other work related factors. Amidst this the worker and their social context are becoming increasingly divorced from the focus of research. This study explores the way in which the individual's social network affects and is affected by the experience of precarious work.

Fifteen individuals in part-time temporary work within the public sector were interviewed three times over a period of two years about their work and their social network. Literature and preliminary stages of the research suggested four social network types: Amplified - where the social network amplifies the pressure from work; Shielded - where the social network shields against the pressure from work; Mediated - where the social network amplifies and shields the pressure from work and Unmediated - where there is no important social network.

The research demonstrates that the meaning which people attach to work determines whether they consider themselves as being insecure. The meaning of work is largely determined by the individual's social network. For example the study found that a number of individuals on similarly precarious contracts were evenly split between those that described themselves as being insecure and those that described themselves as being secure. The obvious difference between these groups was their social networks. Workers who were being strongly supported by their partners and the rest of the social network all described themselves as being secure despite their precarious contract. Workers whose social network seemed to be amplifying the pressures from their work largely described themselves as being insecure.

The study concludes that considering the individual's social context as well as the well explored work related features gives a better understanding of the phenomenon of job insecurity.

Item Type:

Thesis

Creators:

Harvey, R.

Date:

2003

ISBN:

9781369316926

Identifiers: