homeworking

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homeworking

a form of remunerated labour undertaken within the home. In the pre-factory era of manufacture, items would be delivered to households (the ‘putting out’ system) for further processing, and collected when this had been completed. In Europe, the practice continued after the introduction of factories, but probably declined until the late 20th-century when it was revived, especially with the introduction of more flexible patterns of production. In many contemporary Asian and Latin American countries, homeworking is very common, with parts of the production process contracted out. Its attraction for modern firms is that homeworkers (often women) represented a flexible and cheap labour force. Factory overhead costs are also reduced. Homeworking or ‘outwork’ should not be confused with DOMESTIC LABOUR. see also DOMESTIC PRODUCTION.

Collins Dictionary of Sociology, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2000

References in periodicals archive ?

"Employers who offer the option of homeworking often say that it improves staff retention and productivity.

Home is where the work is

For the preliminary data collection, an interview session was carried out to explore the data on homeworking in QS firms.

Nature of works for quantity surveyors to homeworking

Technology has often been seen as a key barrier to the adoption of homeworking. Now, advances in IT and telecoms have enabled more and more of us to work from home and also provide a means of training contact centre staff.

Empowering your homeworkers: Ian Ashby argues that allowing some staff to work from home can greatly benefit your organisation. But how do you know it's right for you, and what training do your staff require to make it work?

Shaun Smith (left) and Craig Bradley could face a pounds 6m compensation order including their Porsche and BMW cars for their homeworking scam

CROOKS' GREAT ESCAPE; Criminals get away without paying millions in compensation

Nevertheless, many consultants, such as Cynthia Froggatt, author of Work Naked, believe that companies can derive significant benefits from homeworking by simply following a set of principles.

Work Naked

The second perspective, driven by a concern with the quality of working life, has addressed the impact of homeworking on the homeworkers themselves.

Power, Identity and New Technology Homework: Implications for 'New Forms' of Organizing [*]

Homeworking may be resisted by employers who fear losing control of quality or hours, possible extra costs, technological difficulties etc.

Helping kids with homework

The study,"'Homeworking: Home Office or Home Sweatshop", was funded by the Network for New Approaches to Lifelong Learning, a research group headed from the University of Toronto's Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.

SWEATSHOPS THRIVE IN TORONTO

A TRADING standards chief has called on the Whack to ask newsagents across the country to display a notice in windows declaring that they will NOT accept adverts for homeworking or envelope addressing schemes.

The Whack: Double Whammy

Many are relying on business center providers and hybrid satellite offices to take up the slack and put back lost amenities as they strive to adjust to homeworking and mobile working.

Teleworkers of the '90s still need office space

The top UAE travel trends were unveiled by the Dubai-based branch of global homeworking company, Travel Counsellors, at the My Travel Counsellors' Conference last month, provided insight into the key booking patterns and destination preferences of its discerning customers.