Abstract
Ethical investors must apply pressure to ensure that companies are providing decent working contracts and conditions, say Sarah Waters and Quintin Rayer.
COVID-19 has exposed the vulnerability of millions of UK workers employed on zero-hours contracts. For them, self-isolation means a sudden loss of income, often without access to redundancy payments, sick pay or universal credit. According to the Office of National Statistics, a record 974,000 people were on a zero-hours contract for their main job at the end of 2019. This is a 130,000 increase on the previous year. The challenge to ethical investors is clear – how do they encourage powerful corporations to offer fair conditions of employment for honest work?
COVID-19 has exposed the vulnerability of millions of UK workers employed on zero-hours contracts. For them, self-isolation means a sudden loss of income, often without access to redundancy payments, sick pay or universal credit. According to the Office of National Statistics, a record 974,000 people were on a zero-hours contract for their main job at the end of 2019. This is a 130,000 increase on the previous year. The challenge to ethical investors is clear – how do they encourage powerful corporations to offer fair conditions of employment for honest work?
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 15 |
| Specialist publication | TRANSFORM magazine |
| Publisher | Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment |
| Publication status | Published - 28 Aug 2020 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Q119ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Economics, Econometrics and Finance(all)
- General Social Sciences