Employment Relations as Networks: Methods and Theory

Traditional approaches to employment relations focus on a small set of actors, but a shift is necessary to understand employment relations as fundamentally mediated by complex and emergent networks. This volume provides a theoretical toolkit of mechanisms that operate within networks and shape employment relations processes and outcomes, and is of interest to students and scholars of employment relations, managers, trade unions, employers organizations, and state authorities.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 258 pages
Publication date: 29 January 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Traditional approaches to employment relations have traditionally focused on a limited set of actors, such as trade unions and employer organizations, operating within the constraints of formal, nationally confined institutions. However, it is becoming increasingly evident that these approaches are insufficiently able to account for the complex and evolving nature of employment relations in a world where formal institutions are rapidly transforming and dissolving, national boundaries become porous, and the sheer number of actors involved is increasing significantly. A shift in perspective is necessary, beyond the nationally bounded actor-institution dichotomy, towards an understanding of employment relations as fundamentally mediated by complex and emergent networks that connect a multitude of actors within and between countries.

This volume aims to provide a seminal starting point for such a paradigm shift by applying theories and methodologies from social network analysis to the study of employment relations. It develops a theoretical toolkit of mechanisms that operate within networks and shape employment relations processes and outcomes, such as wages, labor market policies, and labor conflicts. The book brings together insights from various projects that investigate the structure, functioning, and impact of networks in employment relations through quantitative and qualitative methods. It will be of particular interest to students and scholars of employment relations across business and management, economics, political science, and sociology disciplines, as well as those interested in social networks.

Managers, trade unions, employer organizations, and state authorities at national and international levels will find this book helpful in understanding how networks can influence employment relations outcomes and how they can be managed and regulated effectively.

In conclusion, this volume offers a valuable contribution to the study of employment relations by providing a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to understanding the role of networks in shaping employment relations processes and outcomes. It will be of interest to scholars, practitioners, and policymakers alike.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367646677