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Pay, Hours and Working Conditions in Domiciliary Care: The Rise of Zero Hours Working

Sat, August 16, 4:30 to 5:30pm, TBA

Abstract

This paper explores the impact of the widespread use of zero hours contracts (ZHCs) in the domiciliary care sector. Using the Minimum Data Set for Social Care (NMDS-SC) for England between 2008 and 2013 we assess the association of ZHCs with various employee (e.g. age, gender, nationality, hourly pay, contractual arrangements) and employer (e.g. size, sector) factors. Findings are further supported by five case studies based on interviews conducted in local authorities. The research highlights the decrease of weekly and hourly pay of domiciliary care workers. It further indicates that whilst the average pay for care workers was around 15 per cent above the NMW, in the context of local authority commissioning, there is evidence that the benchmark of the NMW is sustained and is benchmarked mainly via the predominance of private providers and intensification of work.

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