Hoeworking - teleworking. Atypical forms of employment: between usefulness and precariousness

• Author: Mihaela Emilia Marica
• Position: The Bucharest University of Economic Studies
• Pages: 73-85

Hoeworking / teleworking. Atypical forms of employment:

between usefulness and precariousness

PhD student Mihaela-Emilia MARICA

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Abstract

The literature centered on the investigations into the implications of this activity

sector, reveals th at – in addition to the usua l risks entailed by most atypical work

arrangements, some o f them even increased in the case of homeworkers and teleworkers –

these workers are further exposed to the risk of social isolation, because they lack direct

social contact with their peers, colleagues and organization members. The vulnerability of

homeworkers is aggravated by labor legislation, as this category of workers face maj or

difficulties in the complete, effective exercise of some rights, although the law acknowledges

the equality in rights a nd treatment between the employees with standard work contracts,

and the employees opting for flexible work opportunities. In most cases, the remuneration

and social benefits granted to the latter, are lower than the payment and social benefits

offered for the same type of work, to an employee working at the company’s precincts.

Keywords: homeworking, teleworking, atypical work arrangements, flexible work schedules.

JEL Classification: K31

1. General considerations

The popularity

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of telework in its various forms is indissolubly linked to the

development of the economic and social realms over the last decades, to the new

conditions generated by changing economic relationships on the labor market, and

to the expansion of computer and information technology. The possible benefits

involved by teleworking arrangements are not confined to the aspect of work

flexibility – which is also a feature of all non-standard work arrangements – but

comprise economical, social, technical-organizational aspects as well, thus affecting

both parties involved in the juridical relationship established through an employment

contract. The ability of modern organizations to provide homeworking arrangements

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Mihaela-Emilia Marica - The Bucharest University of Economic Studies,

avocatmihaelamarica@yahoo.com.

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The greatest proportion of homeworkers (including teleworkers) is in the USA. According to

International Data Corporation, the number of homeworkers is expected to rise from 96.2 million in

2015, to 105.4 million in 2020, amounting to about 72.3% of the overall labor force (Ahmad Timsal

and Mustabsar Awais, Flexibility or ethical dilemma: an overview of the work from home policies in

modern organizations around the world, in „Human Resource Management International Digest”,

vol. 24, No. 7/2016, pp. 12-15. http://www.emeraldinsight.com.kuleuven.ezproxy.kuleuven.

be/doi/pdfplus/10.1108/HRMID-03-2016-0027, accessed on 13.06. 2017).