Monday 23 April 2018

‘You End Up with Nothing’: The Experience of Being a Statistic of ‘In-Work Poverty’ in the UK

an article by Jo McBride (Newcastle University, UK), Andrew Smith (University of Bradford, UK) and Marcell Mbala (Community volunteer and part-time cleaner, UK) published in Work, Employment and Society Volume 32 Issue 1 (February 2018)

Abstract

Set in the context of the recent unprecedented upsurge of in-work poverty (IWP) in the UK – which currently exceeds out of work poverty – this article presents an account of the realities of experiencing poverty and being employed.

Central issues of low-pay, limited working hours, underemployment and constrained employment opportunities combine to generate severe financial complexities and challenges. This testimony, taken comparatively over a year, reveals the experiences of, not only IWP, but of deep poverty, and of having insufficient wages to fulfil the basic essentials of nourishing food and adequate clothing.

This article contributes to current academic and social policy debates around low-paid work, IWP, the use of foodbanks and underemployment.

New dimensions are offered regarding worker vulnerabilities, given the recent growth of the IWP phenomenon.


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