Gamwell, Sophie Katherine (2008) Agency workers in social care: management, experience and access to voice at work. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

Preview

PDF WRAP_THESIS_Gamwell_2008.pdf - Requires a PDF viewer. Download (1439Kb)

Request Changes to record.

Abstract

This thesis focuses on three key areas of research interest: the way in which agency workers are managed, the impact of heterogeneity in agency work (particularly in relation to job security and the opportunity to act in response to problems at work) and the opportunity for representative voice. It offers insight in these areas that have, to date, been under-explored. The research examines two case studies, focusing on agency workers within the social care workforce. This primarily qualitative study has engaged with agency workers, managers and local and national union representatives using interviews as the main method of data collection.
This study concludes that the management of agency workers is fragmented and that control is divided between agencies and user organisations. It contributes to a growing literature around agency workers, advancing the view that agency workers are diverse and heterogeneous. Variations between agency workers affect their perceptions of different types of job security, and have a significant influence on their opportunity to act in response to problems at work. This thesis reviews the legal position of agency workers and concludes that equal treatment legislation is likely to increase the ability of some agency workers to mobilise, but that the absence of protection from arbitrary dismissal is likely to limit the ability of many agency workers to act in response to problems at work. It reviews the engagement between agency workers and trade unions, finding workplace indifference and rejection coupled with political lobbying for greater legal protection, and that should such protection be enacted it is likely to provide a stimulus for unionisation.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Social service -- Vocational guidance, Social service -- Research, Social workers -- Great Britain, Temporary employees -- Great Britain, Labor unions -- Great Britain
Official Date:	September 2008
Dates:	Date Event September 2008 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Warwick Business School
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Dickens, Linda ; Colling, Trevor
Format of File:	pdf
Extent:	297 leaves : charts
Language:	eng

Request changes or add full text files to a record

Repository staff actions (login required)

View Item

Downloads