The Individual-Collective Aspect of Employment Relationships

Abstract

Ideal-typically we can characterize employment relationships as collective or individual. To qualify as collective these relationships must be regulated through arrangements that go beyond the individual worker. One way of implementing that kind of regulation is through bargaining between employers and workers or their representatives. Such bargaining may involve several workplaces, locally, industry-wise, nationwide, etc. Government intervention is another collective mechanism that partly settles the working conditions for all or for specified categories of employees. As illustrations we can think of statutory rules on working hours and work safety regulation. Also the social insurance system entails collective security by providing benefits when people are hit, for example, by sickness or injury.