Review on the Risks of Atypical Work in OECD Countries in the 1980-2020 Periods

Abstract

The rapid change in working models establishes a new workforce structure and working systems. This situation creates the problem of unregistered employment and atypical work by individualising business dealing. Economic, social and technological developments, especially in the 1970s, have impacted working life worldwide, and atypical employment forms and working models have gradually replaced typical employment types. Being flexibile, it is aimed to adjust the working days and hours according to the demand differences and changes in the market, sustainability of the enterprises, increase in productivity and employment, and the establishment of the work and life balance of the employees. However, with the spread of flexibility practices over time and the intensification of atypical working styles, some losses have begun to occur in employees’ vested rights regarding working conditions. Informal work causes another problem, such as unorganised and irregular labour. The purpose of the study is to examine the problems caused by atypical work. The research used descriptive statistical method since it is convenient to follow the developments in a particular field and identify the factual situations. The authors have collected data from World Labour Organisation and OECD sources and analysed these collected data according to descriptive statistical techniques. Using the trend analysis method, the authors have analysed the workforce structure and union density change in the analysed period based on numerical data. The research has established that atypical work causes insufficient instrumentality and status problems in the study period and disorganisation of labour. Based on research results, it can be stated that such working models as teleworking, working from home, and atypical work may lead to various social and psychological problems in the future