Individualising Risk: Paid Care Work in the New Gig Economy

This book explores how policies of social care individualization are transforming paid care work and employment in the context of the new gig economies of care. It provides insights into potential futures for social care employment, where care is treated as a consumer service, and highlights the risks faced by frontline care workers in these markets. The book advocates for an urgent re-evaluation of current policy approaches to care and the need for new regulatory measures to protect workers in diverse forms of employment.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 223 pages
Publication date: 19 May 2022
Publisher: Springer Verlag, Singapore

This comprehensive book delves into the profound transformations occurring in the realm of paid care work and employment, driven by the policies of social care individualization in the context of emerging gig economies of care. Through a detailed case study of the establishment of a new individualized care market within Australia's National Disability Insurance Scheme, the book offers invaluable insights into the potential trajectories of social care employment, where care is treated as a distinct consumer service. By integrating sociological, political science, and socio-legal perspectives, the book elucidates how, in these individualized care markets, risks of business and employment are increasingly delegated to frontline care workers, despite inadequate labor laws.

The book makes a compelling argument for a urgent reassessment of current policy approaches to care, emphasizing the need for innovative regulatory frameworks to safeguard workers across diverse employment forms. It sheds light on the complex dynamics at play, including the commodification of care, the erosion of labor standards, and the uneven distribution of risks and rewards within the care sector.

This book is a valuable resource for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners interested in understanding the evolving landscape of paid care work and employment, as well as the broader implications of social care individualization for social welfare, labor markets, and the quality of care provision. Its insights and recommendations offer a roadmap for reimagining and improving the future of social care, ensuring that the well-being and rights of frontline care workers are prioritized and protected.

Weight: 313g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789813363687
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021