that of the employer. - Homeworkers Worldwide

Chapter 7: Irregularity of WorkFlexibility is one of key attractions of homework, both to homeworkersthemselves and their employers. In theory the homeworkers can helpcompanies cope with peaks and troughs in demand, and at the sametime the homework is flexible enough to enable the worker to fit itaround other responsibilities such as childcare. In practice, however,the companies have far greater control over the relationship than thehomeworker, meaning the benefits are all too often one sided. Whilstsome homeworkers we spoke to are genuinely content with the level offlexibility their work provides, some homeworkers struggle because theyare not receiving enough work on a regular basis, and others strugglebecause they are receiving too much work to complete at short notice.Even when homeworkers themselves praise the flexibility their workbrings, a more complex picture often emerges as they describe just howdifficult it is to cope with the irregular work and irregular income.“Homeworking is flexible but it is stressful as you are trying to fit inother chores and responsibilities around homeworking which is notregular…You are tied down because the employer can turn up anytime.”“It is flexible and I can look after my children.” What one thing couldmake your life as a homeworker better? “Regular work”“We would come home and find our house full [of work]. He’s filled itbefore. He would sometimes fill it up again before it was done.”“I’m looking forsomething elsebecause this ishit and miss,but somethingis better thannothing.”“I’m looking for something else because this is hit and miss, butsomething is better than nothing.”“Once you do a big order, more is put on you, they expect you to domore, and the work increased over the years… Never knew how muchand what work you were getting. At first 10 gross, some weeks I’dget 60 odd gross… the pressure to finish the work is always there,when you go out you feel you have to get back and do more, I couldn’trelax.”“At least you are your own boss. There is no-one standing over you….except yourself, you put pressure on yourself to get the work done…When there is a lot of work it is really tiring. You don’t want them tocome and bring more.”“I usually work for three weeks and then there is no work for up tothree or four weeks.”Irregularity of work has always been a major problem for homeworkers.As part of the in-depth interview, 20 homeworkers responded to the twoquestions ‘Have there been any times when you have been willing towork but no work has been available’ and ‘Have there been any timeswhen you have had more work than you could reasonably manage?’Both of these problems were common, with 45% (9) not receiving work38 39