WES 2010: Conference Theme

Managing Uncertainty:  A new deal?  International challenges and the changing face of work

The seismic change in economic affairs has had global reverberations in terms of rapidly rising unemployment rates; unprecedented post-war government intervention in the management of the economy; and wide ranging consequences for labour that are becoming evermore apparent as events unfold since the autumn of 2008.

These developments present a new set of challenges around inequalities, insecurity, changing forms of organisational practices and regulation; but many of these have their roots in traditional concerns of employment researchers. What is new and what has changed? How can we get a better grasp on these developments, both theoretically and empirically with an international perspective? Will the recession throw up new forms of regulation? Are we looking at a new deal and how will it challenge new dependencies at work and in society more widely?

This WES conference addresses these developments head on by focusing on key issues in employment relations from an international comparative perspective.

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