Decent Work and The Employers’ Perspective: Evidence From Scotland

Between the established and high profile concerns with the quality of employment through ‘fair work’ for the low paid and talent management of the key staff in organizations lies a ‘murky middle’; the quality of employment for many in a changing world of work and employment. To better understand this neglected part of the workforce the concept of ‘decent work’ has been proposed as a focus for research and action.

We report on the background literature on decent work from the employers’ perspective, and a study to explore what decent work means in Scotland, if it is provided, and how it may be advanced. This is part of a project that included research with the future workforce, young people and low paid workers, as well as employers. The employers’ perspective comes from semi-structured interviews with employers representing organizations and sectors in Scotland. There is no single definition of decent work among employers, though there is shared view of the fundamentals on what decent work means. The challenges of analysing the extent to which decent work is provided, and where it is not how to advance it, are outlined from the employers’ perspective. This study provides the foundation for a larger research project we are presently planning and undertaking. This highlights that decent work is an issue which should be high on the political agenda, given its potential to further not only well-being but also increase productivity, generate higher fiscal revenues, and promote gender equality at work.