EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP IN A CHANGING WORLD OF WORK: CHALLENGES AND PRAGMATIC SOLUTIONS.

Abstract

The world, including the world of work is increasingly getting diverse, with constant changes which has the potential to intensify in future. There is no predetermined future for the world of work but labour market actors including policy makers have to continue to anticipate what future holds. The general objective is to analyse employment relationship in a changing world of work: challenges and recommend pragmatic solutions. The paper adopted Labour Process Theory, Change Theory and Industrial relations theory to explain the employment relationship and the changing world of work. The paper adopted pragmatic and interpretive research philosophy. Desk review was conducted. Secondary data was used to analyse the various types of employment relationship and changing patterns in the world of work. The paper explains that there are two forms of employment relationship: standard employment and non-standard employment relationship. The paper identifies globalisation, and technological advancement as the mainstay for change, and COVID 19 pandemic as a catalyst of change. The paper concludes that there is no one size-fit-all approach in managing employment relationship and suggest adoption of integrated approaches in identifying pragmatic solutions. These includes: rights-based approach, needs based approach, market-based approach and human centered approaches.