Human Rights & Employment

3. Employment

3.1. Employment, theoretical approach

Employment is a relationship between two parties, usually based on a contract where work is paid for, where one party, which may be a corporation, for profit, not-for-profit organization, co-operative or other entity is the employer and the other is the employee.

Employees work in return for payment, which may be in the form of an hourly wage, by piecework or an annual salary, depending on the type of work an employee does or which sector she or he is working in. Employees in some fields or sectors may receive gratuities, bonus payment or stock options. In some types of employment, employees may receive benefits in addition to payment. Benefits can include health insurance, housing, disability insurance, etc. Employment is typically governed by employment laws, regulations or legal contracts.

 

WHY IS WORK IMPORTANT?

The status of work in contemporary societies is the result of a long historical process. Work has become a central organising feature of both the rationality and the ethics of our societies.

Besides the obvious economical relevance, work is also central in several other dimensions, namely in its role as a socializing mechanism, as a source of social exchanges, and as a feature of individual identity. Work subsequently can be seen as the pillar of social organization, but also, to a large extent, as an important pillar of the existential organization of individuals. It is precisely because of this that work has become a fundamental feature in many dimensions of social inclusion, such as health, housing and interpersonal networks. Let's summarize the importance of work both at the individual and the societal level:

• For individuals, work is an important feature in structuring:

i)                   personal and social identity

ii)                 family and social bonds

iii)              ways of making money

iv)               accessing a number of essential and non-essential goods, services and activities

v)                 daily routines

vi)               physical and mental well-being

vii)            self-confidence and self-esteem and a sense of self-worth provided by the feeling of contributing to society or the common good

• For societies, work is an important feature in:

i)                   promoting community cohesion and safety

ii)                  increasing civic participation

iii)              promoting social and economic development

iv)               organizing social life

Thus it is widely acknowledged that work plays a positive role as a source of well-being and social integration.

 

ACTIVITY

Employment is considered to be one of the most important adult roles of a person. Please refer to the relevant section in the “Transition to Adulthood” module LINK (στο 3.2 During Life Planning) and study the process of transitioning to adulthood.