Welfare-to-work policy under the coalition

Stephen James Williams; Peter John Scott

Welfare-to-work policy under the coalition

Stephen James Williams, Peter John Scott

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

Abstract

This chapter scrutinizes the UK coalition government’s welfare-to-work reforms between 2010 and 2015. The coalition shared with its New Labour predecessor a concern with using active labour market policies to tackle long-term unemployment. However, it took a distinctly more punitive approach when it came to ‘making work pay’, based upon an unpalatable distinction between so-called ‘strivers’ and ‘shirkers’ designed to demonize those not in paid work. The performance of the coalition’s Work Programme was notably poor. By accentuating labour commodification, the coalition’s welfare-to-work reforms helped to reproduce and normalize a precarious, low-wage labour market.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Employment relations under coalition government
Subtitle of host publication	The UK experience, 2010-2015
Editors	Steve Williams, Peter Scott
Place of Publication	London and New York
Publisher	Routledge
Pages	66-85
Number of pages	19
ISBN (Print)	9781138887008
Publication status	Published - Jun 2016

Publication series

Name	Routledge Research in Employment Relations

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

https://www.routledge.com/Employment-Relations-under-Coalition-Government-The-UK-Experience-2010-2015/Williams-Scott/p/book/9781138887008

Cite this

Williams, S. J., & Scott, P. J. (2016). Welfare-to-work policy under the coalition. In S. Williams, & P. Scott (Eds.), Employment relations under coalition government: The UK experience, 2010-2015 (pp. 66-85). (Routledge Research in Employment Relations). Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Employment-Relations-under-Coalition-Government-The-UK-Experience-2010-2015/Williams-Scott/p/book/9781138887008

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abstract = "This chapter scrutinizes the UK coalition government{\textquoteright}s welfare-to-work reforms between 2010 and 2015. The coalition shared with its New Labour predecessor a concern with using active labour market policies to tackle long-term unemployment. However, it took a distinctly more punitive approach when it came to {\textquoteleft}making work pay{\textquoteright}, based upon an unpalatable distinction between so-called {\textquoteleft}strivers{\textquoteright} and {\textquoteleft}shirkers{\textquoteright} designed to demonize those not in paid work. The performance of the coalition{\textquoteright}s Work Programme was notably poor. By accentuating labour commodification, the coalition{\textquoteright}s welfare-to-work reforms helped to reproduce and normalize a precarious, low-wage labour market. ",

author = "Williams, {Stephen James} and Scott, {Peter John}",

year = "2016",

month = jun,

language = "English",

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series = "Routledge Research in Employment Relations",

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editor = "Steve Williams and Peter Scott",

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Williams, SJ & Scott, PJ 2016, Welfare-to-work policy under the coalition. in S Williams & P Scott (eds), Employment relations under coalition government: The UK experience, 2010-2015. Routledge Research in Employment Relations, Routledge, London and New York, pp. 66-85. <https://www.routledge.com/Employment-Relations-under-Coalition-Government-The-UK-Experience-2010-2015/Williams-Scott/p/book/9781138887008>

Welfare-to-work policy under the coalition. / Williams, Stephen James; Scott, Peter John.
Employment relations under coalition government: The UK experience, 2010-2015. ed. / Steve Williams; Peter Scott. London and New York: Routledge, 2016. p. 66-85 (Routledge Research in Employment Relations).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

TY - CHAP

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AB - This chapter scrutinizes the UK coalition government’s welfare-to-work reforms between 2010 and 2015. The coalition shared with its New Labour predecessor a concern with using active labour market policies to tackle long-term unemployment. However, it took a distinctly more punitive approach when it came to ‘making work pay’, based upon an unpalatable distinction between so-called ‘strivers’ and ‘shirkers’ designed to demonize those not in paid work. The performance of the coalition’s Work Programme was notably poor. By accentuating labour commodification, the coalition’s welfare-to-work reforms helped to reproduce and normalize a precarious, low-wage labour market.

M3 - Chapter (peer-reviewed)

SN - 9781138887008

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CY - London and New York

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Welfare-to-work policy under the coalition

Abstract

Publication series

UN SDGs

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Cite this