Family Networks and Employment in Textiles

Abstract

The paper explores the extent to which the family remains of significance within the workplace. Considering material derived from a study of a textile mill in Yorkshire, the paper shows that family ties remain crucial within the company. It then goes on to consider the significance of these ties. It rejects the view that these ties can be seen as anachronisms or as evidence of paternalism in the manner identified by Martin and Fryer (1973) or Newby (1977). Instead, we argue that the existence of family ties and a family ideology within the firm is a crucial element in giving the firm flexibility within a highly competitive sector of the textile industry. The characteristics of the firm to an extent reflect those of Japanese firms where life-long employment also promotes commitment and flexibility on the part of the workforce. Thus, far from family ties being irrelevant to modern industry, we argue that they have, if anything, an increased relevance in the era of `flexible specialization' (Piore and Sabel 1984).