Publications

Before the pandemic interest in the location of work was, at best, modest, but during and after the pandemic interest spiked with claims that the office is dying. This report examines historical trends in those working exclusively at home (homeworkers) and those working partly in the office and partly at home (hybrid workers). It identifies…

We believe that social research has the power to make life better. By really understanding the complexity of people’s lives and what they think about the issues that affect them, we give the public a powerful and influential role in shaping decisions and services that can make a difference to everyone. And as an independent,…

Abuse is the dark side of the social environment at work, with detrimental effects on worker health and wellbeing, and a reduced commitment to work. Too little is known, however, about the prevalence of abuse across UK workplaces. This report analyses perceptions of physical violence, sexual harassment and other harassment or bullying. It finds that:…

Participation at work is an important determinant of personal well-being and is associated with significantly higher levels of employee motivation that are likely to be conducive to higher productivity in technologically advanced economies. The report examines trends in different types of participation among British workers, their distribution by gender and class, and the implications of…

This report examines key trends in union membership in Britain and perceptions in the influence that unions have. The report also examines the demand for union representation among those employed at non-unionised workplaces and how these demands vary between different population subgroups. Against the backdrop of a long-term decline in union membership over the last…

The pursuit of meaningful work has deep historical roots, spurred by both individuals’ intrinsic needs for psychological fulfilment and organisations’ drive to enhance work motivation, performance, and competitive advantage. Over the past decade, the alleged growth of roles which are useless – so-called ‘bullshit jobs’ – has prompted public discussion of the meaning of work….

The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics in the workplace has sparked debates about their potential to reshape how we work, learn and interact. Against this backdrop, this report examines the evolution of work digitalisation since the 1990s, the drivers of AI and robot adoption in 2023/2024, and how technology adoption relates to workforce…

This report examines whether the job quality gender gap is widening or narrowing along six key dimensions: Working Time Quality, Weekly Earnings, Job Security, Autonomy & Skill, the Physical Environment and Work Intensity. The gap in each of these dimensions is important for gender equality in health and wellbeing, but only the pay gap is…

Skills are integral to supporting the development of the United Kingdom as a high wage-high growth economy. This report examines key trends in qualifications held, the different types of skills used at work, trends in job related training and learning at work and the degree to which workers can use the qualifications, skills and experience…

The relationship of science and scientists with society has been controversial throughout history. This includes the natural, physical, applied, and social sciences. Such tension changes according to the nature of each society and has a fundamental role in shaping it. This article is concerned with developments in modern industrial and post-industrial societies. It considers the…