103 Non-Standard Work

Question 1

What is standard work?

Answer 1

• Full-time hours (at least 30 hours)
• Regular 9-5 pm or 8-4 pm
• Access to non-wage benefits - sick leave, holiday pay, annual leave.
• Having the status of an employee
• Located at a particular place

There’s a sense of security, predictability, certainty and consistency.

Question 2

What is non-standard work?

Answer 2

• Part-time work and/or self-employment
• Irregular and less predictable hours
• Less security and continuity of job tenure
• Less direct employment (outsourcing)
• Often precarious working conditions

There’s a sense of insecurity, unpredictability, uncertainty and inconsistency.

Question 3

What are Fair Pay Agreements?

Answer 3

Fair Pay Agreements emerged as a policy solution that attempts to mitigate some of the inequities brought about by non-standard work (and other exploitative working conditions)

However, there are competing views about the extent to which Fair Pay Agreements are an effective policy solution, which is unsurprising given that different political orientations have differing views about whether non-standard work + pay inequity is a problem.