Theories and Concepts in Work and Employment Relations: A Concise Guide (Elgar Guides to Key Theories)

This comprehensive book explores key theories and concepts in the study of work and employment relations. Expert authors provide a detailed guide to the essential theories behind the ever-changing world of employment, presenting their own perspectives on these ideas.

Chapters are organised into four thematic parts, encompassing the employment relationship, managerial challenges, the experience and conceptualisation of work, and trade unionism and resistance. The book features a range of diverse voices, with contributions from both leading scholars and emerging academics who have made crucial advancements in the field. Ultimately, Theories and Concepts in Work and Employment Relations aims to deepen our understanding of the key ideas in the study of employment, creating a framework for future academic discourse and debate.

Interdisciplinary in scope, this book is an essential read for researchers and students in the fields of industrial and employment relations, the sociology of work and human resource management. It includes both an overview of the field and a valuable guide to avenues for future research, supporting aspiring scholars in making a contribution to contemporary debates. Its innovative insights will also benefit practitioners and professionals who would like to further their theoretical knowledge in the field.

Edited by Andrew Smith, Senior Lecturer in Employment Relations and Human Resource Management, Sheffield University Management School, Pauline Dibben, Emerita Professor, Sheffield University Management School, UK and Adrian Wilkinson, Distinguished Professor of Human Resource Management, Griffith Business School, Griffith University, Australia