Precarious work often carries a rather negative connotation, being
associated with unstable, insecure and unhealthy employment (Allan et al.,
2021), However, it is frequently framed in policy discourse as a stepping
stone to labour market inclusion, offering non-workers initial access to
employment and, potentially, pathways to more stable job opportunities
(de Graaf-Zijl et al., 2011). This idea of precarious work as a stepping stone
also underpins the recent surge in policies and programs focused on
activation of non-workers (Rubery et al., 2018). However, recent research
has shown that precarious work can also cause individuals to fall into cycles
of unemployment and precarious work or lead to discouragement from jobsearching
altogether (Aldrich & Callanan, 2011).
In this study, we explore whether, and if so, how precarious work can serve
as a stepping stone. Through interviews with individuals in precarious work,
we want to gain insight into their experiences and identify factors that
render precarious work a stepping stone or a stumbling block. We approach
these questions from Conservation of Resources Theory (Hobföll, 1989,
2011): we assume that individuals with sufficient personal resources are
better equipped to navigate precarious job conditions and use their
resources to secure less precarious employment. Conversely, those with
fewer resources may struggle to escape such conditions.
We select a work context that has distinct precarious characteristics in
Flanders (the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium), namely domestic cleaning
work. Domestic cleaning work is rather unstable and insecure as it is
characterized by a volatile demand for labour and unhealthy because of the
physically demanding tasks.