Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230101520
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,573.00
Summary
Work fragmentation in the gig economy. The gig economy has fragmented working arrangements in Australia and globally, disrupting how, where and on what terms work is performed. This study will systematically interrogate the consequences for work and workers in Australia of the growth and diversification of gig work. It will use a labour geography approach to explain how workers navigate working in the gig economy in the context of their wider lives. This will extend existing research by groundin ....Work fragmentation in the gig economy. The gig economy has fragmented working arrangements in Australia and globally, disrupting how, where and on what terms work is performed. This study will systematically interrogate the consequences for work and workers in Australia of the growth and diversification of gig work. It will use a labour geography approach to explain how workers navigate working in the gig economy in the context of their wider lives. This will extend existing research by grounding analysis in the lived experience of workers both across various segments of the gig economy and over time. The project will extend academic theory and provide guidance to policymakers as to how to harness the benefits of gig work while mitigating potential harm.Read moreRead less
Enforcing labour standards in supply chains through voluntary frameworks. This project aims to investigate the potential of multi-stakeholder initiatives to ensure the enforcement of labour standards in supply chains by examining the cleaning accountability framework - an initiative comprised of diverse representatives in the commercial cleaning supply chain in Australia. It is expected that this will result in the development of new regulatory methods/technology to improve compliance. This is e ....Enforcing labour standards in supply chains through voluntary frameworks. This project aims to investigate the potential of multi-stakeholder initiatives to ensure the enforcement of labour standards in supply chains by examining the cleaning accountability framework - an initiative comprised of diverse representatives in the commercial cleaning supply chain in Australia. It is expected that this will result in the development of new regulatory methods/technology to improve compliance. This is expected to improve the quality of life of vulnerable workers in supply chains and the mitigation of reputational risk for business.
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From margins to mainstream: gender equality and employment regulation. Progress towards gender equality in employment has stalled, despite anti-discrimination laws. This investigation of alternative regulatory strategies will build Australian expertise and contribute to knowledge about the relationships between gender equality and employment regulation, generating policy options for employment and human rights bodies.
Unions and Regional Regeneration. Unions face many challenges in older industrial regions, where they previously have had a strong presence. Successful regeneration of such regions depends on the active involvement of unions and their members as well as business. In some places, however, unions have remained marginal to these processes. Not only does this project extend theory on union purpose, capacities and organisation in support of economic, political and environmental change towards sustain ....Unions and Regional Regeneration. Unions face many challenges in older industrial regions, where they previously have had a strong presence. Successful regeneration of such regions depends on the active involvement of unions and their members as well as business. In some places, however, unions have remained marginal to these processes. Not only does this project extend theory on union purpose, capacities and organisation in support of economic, political and environmental change towards sustainable futures, it applies a novel combination of methods. This application examines the consequences of involvement and non-involvement in these processes. The project seeks to extend theories of social change and social mobilisation.Read moreRead less
Understanding gender inequality in the post-pandemic future of work. This project examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis on the working futures of young women and men in three advanced market economies where the pandemic hit with varying degrees of severity. Young people have experienced the greatest upheaval of all workers, and the impact has been gendered. Recovery strategies will have lasting consequences for women’s and men’s working futures. The project will produc ....Understanding gender inequality in the post-pandemic future of work. This project examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis on the working futures of young women and men in three advanced market economies where the pandemic hit with varying degrees of severity. Young people have experienced the greatest upheaval of all workers, and the impact has been gendered. Recovery strategies will have lasting consequences for women’s and men’s working futures. The project will produce macro-level mapping of post-pandemic national work/care regimes, and micro-level survey data on young people’s experience of and attitudes to the future of work in Australia, the UK and Japan, to deliver insights on the gendered economic and social impact of the pandemic and inform a more inclusive global recovery.Read moreRead less
Precariousness in law and labour markets: the case of temporary migrant workers. This project examines the situation of temporary migrant workers in Australia, focusing on the nature and extent of their precariousness both in law and in labour market practice. It offers a major contribution to current research and policy debates on the implications of temporary migrant labour.
Smashing Glass Walls: Building gender equality in male-dominated jobs. This project investigates gender segregation, which is a remarkably resilient problem in the Australian labour market, despite women's increasing labour force participation and strong educational attainment. It examines this problem with a focus on women’s careers in very male-dominated occupations. In these contexts, women enter in low numbers, find it difficult to progress, and face extremely hostile working environments. ....Smashing Glass Walls: Building gender equality in male-dominated jobs. This project investigates gender segregation, which is a remarkably resilient problem in the Australian labour market, despite women's increasing labour force participation and strong educational attainment. It examines this problem with a focus on women’s careers in very male-dominated occupations. In these contexts, women enter in low numbers, find it difficult to progress, and face extremely hostile working environments. Adopting a career stage, a worker- and industry-engaged, and a comparative design, the project will generate new insight into where and how sustainable careers for women are challenged in these contexts. This knowledge will inform strategies to build gender equality in jobs at the heart of the economy.
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Trade union futures: purposes, capacities and organisation towards a green transition. What is the future of trade unions? They face uncertain futures especially in the traditional industrial communities. While unions are aware of these challenges it is unclear how they will renew themselves to meet the new conditions. The research will show how unions can contribute to an environmentally sustainable world.
Working at the margin: the consequences of non-standard employment. This project plans to use survey data tracking Australians through time to examine the impacts of non-standard employment on labour market outcomes and on their health and wellbeing. Around 40 per cent of Australian workers are in non-standard forms of employment. Such jobs are typically associated with job insecurity, unpredictable working hours, and limited opportunities for career progression, which can all negatively affect ....Working at the margin: the consequences of non-standard employment. This project plans to use survey data tracking Australians through time to examine the impacts of non-standard employment on labour market outcomes and on their health and wellbeing. Around 40 per cent of Australian workers are in non-standard forms of employment. Such jobs are typically associated with job insecurity, unpredictable working hours, and limited opportunities for career progression, which can all negatively affect worker wellbeing and long-term employment prospects. But such jobs can also serve as a crucial entry point into the labour market, and for some workers may be a better match with personal preferences. Project results may inform current debates about the need for greater or lesser regulation of employment arrangements.Read moreRead less
Employment outcomes for people with disabilities: enhancing fit perceptions of jobseekers, employment agencies, community members and employers. Nearly four million people in Australia have a disability. People with disabilities experience a high unemployment rate. Current policy encourages the placement of disabled job seekers in disability-focused enterprises. This project will identify strategies to facilitate the placement of disabled job seekers in mainstream organisations.