Regulation of work and employment: Towards a multidisciplinary, multilevel framework

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Work and employment remain a central concern to people's livelihoods, wellbeing and identities. But how are the terms, nature and quality of work and employment determined? In other words, what is the system of regulation that shapes and reproduces these terms? This series aims to address the complexities and dynamics of the forces that give rise to patterns of regulation at local, national, supranational and international levels. The series will contribute to developing understanding of these issues and in doing so; it will inform policies, strategies and practices of government, businesses and unions.The regulation of work and employment has always generated debate about the competing demands between economic concerns (e.g., competitiveness and productivity), and social concerns (e.g., worker rights, equality and social justice). However, the global financial crisis has created a high degree of tension as businesses struggle to reconcile the need to survive intensified competition whilst dealing with the fragmentation of industrial relations (IR). In this context, the regulation of work and employment is a central point of contention. Such controversy is evidenced in the debates around UK membership of the EU (Monks, 2013). For governments, policy-makers and inter-governmental agencies, this translates into struggles to set the 'rules of the game' and the degree of intervention. Most workers and their families, as well as unions welcome regulation as they see it as a key element of decent work, work-life balance and health and safety (van Wanrooy et al., 2011; Sanséau and Smith, 2012). However, many employers argue that a high degree of regulation may discourage them from investing and creating jobs in a local economy, instead driving them to countries with a lower degree of regulation. From the perspective of the labour movement, such arguments can precipitate an international 'race to the bottom' in terms of employers offering poor conditions rather than decent opportunities. These contradictions are seen in diverse discussions about regulation at national and supranational levels. For example, the UK government's "Red Tape Challenge" (BIS, 2012); the EU15 Project (OECD, 2012), and the report on Standards for Rule Making (Business Council of Australia, 2012) show that regulation is seen as a burden on business. The CBI (2012) notes that regulation stymies performance and economic growth, and hinders investment. Indeed, in the last two decades there has been an increase in governments' efforts to reform (i.e. reduce) regulatory interventions into labour markets and workplaces. However, the OECD (2004, 2012) recognises that a regulatory framework is essential to efficient markets and effective government. At an international level, evidence from economies such as Germany suggests that employment protection and strong economic output can coexist.This highlights that regulation should no longer be a theme reserved for specialist discussion. This seminar programme presents a timely opportunity to establish an innovative, collaborative dialogue where diverse discussions are brought together with a view of improving our learning in academic terms and to influence policy-making and practices (see Bamber et al., 2010; Bamber et al., 2011).We propose six seminars focusing on:1. Competing approaches to regulation of work and employment.2. Workplace regulation: human resource management (HRM) and IR issues.3. International regulation.4. Regulation and the individual experience of work.5. Regulation and the firm.6. The future of regulation.Seminar 1 identifies the commonalities in seemingly disparate discourses, setting out key questions. Seminars 2-5 each explore regulation at a different level of analysis (workplace, international, individual and organisational). Seminar 6 establishes an agenda for the future that seeks to advance the discussion, inform and influence policy and practice.