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Taking worker productivity to a new level? Electronic Monitoring in homecare - the (re)production of unpaid labour

Moore, S., Hayes, L. (2017) Taking worker productivity to a new level? Electronic Monitoring in homecare - the (re)production of unpaid labour. New Technology, Work and Employment, 32 (2). pp. 101-114. E-ISSN 1468-005X. (doi:10.1111/ntwe.12087) (KAR id:75211)

Abstract

This article explores the use of Electronic Monitoring (EM) in homecare and its impact on the ratio of paid to unpaid working time. It argues that whilst Zero Hours Contracts (ZHCs) blur the distinction between paid and unpaid labour, the introduction of EM can formalise and regulate the demarcation between the two. In the context of local authority commissioning and constrained budgets, the combination of EM and ZHC's may excise so‐called ‘unproductive’ but available labour from homecare. In particular, the minute‐by‐minute commissioning of care that EM facilitates means the cost of homecare is anchored in the time that worker's spend in client's houses, squeezing out paid travel, time between visits, training and supervision. Paid working time is minimised whilst maximising the use of unpaid time with resulting intensification of care labour.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1111/ntwe.12087
Uncontrolled keywords: care, surveillance, working time, Zero Hours, Electronic Monitoring, procurement, unpaid labour
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > Kent Law School
Depositing User: Lydia Hayes
Date Deposited: 05 Jul 2019 10:16 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Feb 2021 14:05 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/75211 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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