Understanding the NewEmployment Relationship

This chapter explores the foundational concept of the employment relationship amid industrial relations and labour markets change due to various organizational and political factors. It examines shifts in work organization and patterns, focusing on feminization and flexibilization. The chapter also discusses how employment status affects contractual employment arrangements and experiences in non-standard and freelance arrangements, such as the gig economy. Despite evident changes in the labour market and work organization, it challenges the notion of a fundamentally ‘new’ employment relationship by revisiting the core facets of the traditional employment relationship. The chapter concludes with by setting out a future research agenda to examine the employment relationship in changing work and organizational contexts, highlighting the need for deeper inquiry into new working arrangements, regulatory responses, and trust between employment relations actors.