Employment Relations in the 21st Century: Challenges for Theory and Research in a Changing World of Work

Focusing on why and how work is changing, how collective actors deal with it, and the future of work from different disciplinary angles and at an international level, the contributors describe and analyse such issues and topics as the following:

• new forms of social protection and representation;
• differences in the power relations of workers and political dynamics;
• balancing protection of workers’ dignity and promotion of productivity;
• intersection of information technology and workplace regulation;
• how the gig economy undermines legal protections;
• role of professional and trade associations;
• workplace conflict management;
• lay judges in labour courts;
• undeclared work in the informal sector of the labour market;
• work incapacity and disability;
• (in)coherence of the work-related case law of the European Court of Justice; and
• business restructurings.

Derived from a major conference held in Leuven in September 2018, the book offers an in-depth understanding of the changing world of work, its main transformations, and the challenges posed to classical employment relations theories and methods as well as to labour law.

With its wide range of insights, analysis, and reflection, this unique contribution to the study of industrial relations offers an authoritative reference guide to scholars, policymakers, trade unions and business associations, human resources professionals, and practitioners who need to deal with the future of work challenges.