Comparative Employment Relations in the Global Economy

Description

Employment Relations is widely taught in business schools around the world. However, an increasing emphasis is being placed on the comparative and international dimensions of the relationships between employers and workers. It is becoming crucial to consider today’s work and employment issues alongside the dynamics between global financial and product markets, global production chains, national and international employment actors and institutions, and the ways in which these relationships play out in different national contexts. Comparative Employment Relations in the Global Economy addresses this need by presenting a cross-section of country studies – including the UK, Germany, USA, Brazil, India, Russia, China and South Africa – alongside integrative thematic chapters covering essential topics such as theoretical approaches, collective representation and employment regulation. This second edition benefits from: Careful updates to theory and real-life developments Fuller treatment of topics such as labour migration, gender and discrimination, global value chains and corporate governance A more logical ordering of chapters, with globalization issues appearing earlier This textbook is the perfect resource for students on advanced undergraduate and postgraduate comparative and international programmes across areas such as employment relations, industrial relations, human resource management, political economy, labour politics, industrial and economic sociology, regulation and social policy. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Acknowledgements List of figures List of tables Notes on contributors List of abbreviations PART 1: Comparative employment relations 1. Introduction: global challenges at work The structure of the book References 2. Theoretical perspectives on comparative employment relations Market driven theories The political economy of employment relations Conceptual framework Notes References PART 2: Employment relations challenges in comparative perspective 3. Globalization and employment relations Introduction Perspectives on globalization Debates regarding the consequences of globalization Towards a global regulation of labour standards? Globalization and employment relations research Theory Conclusion Notes References 4. Job quality, work intensity and working time: the experience of work Introduction The changing debate about work: from deskilling to job quality Comparative trends in skill levels and job quality Work intensification Work time: asocial problem revisited Conclusions References 5. Inequalities and employment relations Introduction Inclusive employment relations: their contribution to reducing multiple equalities The challenges of addressing multiple equalities How can trade union actions address multiple equalities? Conclusions References 6. Labour migration Introduction Conceptualizing migration Migration flows Labour market implications for native workers Implications for migrants and labour market integration Intergenerational mobility Conclusion Notes References 7. Work and employment practices in comparative perspective Work and employment systems in the golden age New realities: the neoliberal era Notes References 8. Employment relations and economic performance Introduction Trends in employment relations institutions How do employment relations affect economic growth and business performance? Employment relations and inclusive growth: future prospects Notes References 9. Employment relations, welfare and politics Introduction Varieties of welfare regimes and the employment relationship Four models of employment and welfare regimes Politics: political institutions, class structures and voting patterns Welfare and employment reforms Future challenges Conclusions Notes References PART 3: Regulating the employment relationship 10. Individual employee rights at work Introduction Preliminary observations on the rationales for employment mandates Minimum labour standards Equal status rights Privacy and dignity rights Anti-retaliation protections and whistleblower rights Conclusion Notes References 11. Collective representation at work: institutions and dynamics Introduction What is collective representation? meanings and ambiguities Varieties of trade unionism Union membership, structure, democracy and effects ‘Non-union’ collective representation Institutional continuity and change References 12. Regional regulation: the European Union Introduction Regional integration: a spectrum of possibilities The European Union The European-level dimension to employment relations Multi-level governance and the effectiveness of EU regulation Assessment and prospects Notes References 13. International regulation: standards and voluntary practices Introduction Voluntary regulation in the context of global governance The International Labour Organization (ILO) Voluntary regulation and the employment relationship in the global arena Conclusions Notes References PART 4: Employment regulation in national contexts 14. The United States The hegemon after hegemony? Big business and fordism in the new deal era The 1970s and the crisis of the new deal order Flexibility, contingent work and the new industrial relations Conclusion Notes References 15. The United Kingdom The actors and processes in employment relations Employment relations outcomes Theoretical perspectives Conclusions Note References 16. France Introduction Actors and processes in French political economy Industrial relations outcomes Theoretical considerations Conclusion Notes References 17. Germany Introduction Core features of the post-war model Key actors within the German system of employment relations Employers Government Employment relations processes and outcomes: general trends and developments Theoretical perspectives Conclusions Notes References 18. Sweden Introduction The actors and processes in employment relations From declining growth in the 1970s to the economic crisis of the 1990s Trade unions Employers and employer organizations Government and political intervention Employment relations outcomes Theoretical considerations Conclusions References 19. Japan Introduction Evolution of employment relations in Japan Actors Employment relations processes Pressures for change and actors’ reactions Neo-dualism, the rise of the service sector and government intervention Abenomics and the politics of work style reform Changing actors and actor relations Change, inertia and institutions Notes References 20. Brazil Introduction The actors and processes in employment relations Employment relations outcomes Theoretical perspectives Conclusion Notes References 21. Russia Actors and processes Employment relations outcomes and processes Theoretical perspectives Prospects Notes References 22. India Introduction The Indian labour market The historical evolution of Indian industrial relations Actors in Indian employment relations Employment relations outcomes Theoretical implications Conclusion References 23. China The actors in employment relations The processes of employment relations Employment relations outcomes Theoretical perspectives Strategies of employers, unions and workers Conclusions Notes References 24. South Africa The trade union challenge to racial exclusion under apartheid The corporatist framework after 1994 Corporatism waylaid: the post-apartheid restructuring of the labour market The erosion of the corporatist framework Power shifts within employment relations South Africa’s employment relations in aglobal context Notes References Index