The idea that workers want to stay in an insecure job for the “perk” of flexibility is “flawed” according to a report by the think tank, the Work Foundation.

Published in partnership with UNISON, the study found that many people currently in insecure work had to trade security for flexibility to balance work around other factors in their lives, such as caring responsibilities or health issues. This left them vulnerable to economic shocks, as well as potential negative impacts on their wellbeing and future career prospects.

Four in 10 insecure workers earning less than £18,000 per year also said they were in their current job due to limitations, such as the availability of jobs in their area, poor transport infrastructure, or a lack of available childcare.

In addition, the research found that insecure workers are more likely to report that they are struggling financially than those in secure jobs. Over half (52%) of those in insecure work earn less than the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s Minimum Income Standard of £25,500, and more than one in four insecure workers (28%) indicated that they were finding it ‘quite’ or ‘very difficult’ to get by. This applied to just over one in five people in secure roles (22%).

The study found that, for some, access to flexible employment was crucial to managing a health condition, but for too many in insecure work, it is one-sided and can, therefore, impact workers' wellbeing.

Insecure workers were twice as likely as secure workers to experience job-related stress four to six days a week (26% compared with 13%). In particular, uncertainty over earnings could be a significant driver of stress and anxiety.

The Work Foundation’s new report sets out policy recommendations for the government that seek to improve workers’ access to secure work, as well as improve the quality of insecure roles. They recommend that it should:

  • Open up flexible working to all workers from day one on the job.
  • Enhance the predictability of working arrangements.
  • Improve the enforcement of labour market regulation.
  • Prioritise the lowest paid workers for support.
  • Expand access to Statutory Sick Pay and disability leave.

 

To read the report in full, click here.