The unorganised worker: problems at work, routes to support and views on representation. The unrepresented worker survey 2004: Working Paper 1. Technical and methodology summary and sample profile

This is the first working paper from a project that explored the experience of problems at work and sources of support and advice of non-unionised workers in Britain. It explored ‘concerns’ at work – what these were, how they were perceived, whether any action was taken or not - and wider issues of individual employment rights and their enforcement. Non-unionised workers’ use of union help-lines, statutory bodies such as Acas and the Employment Tribunal system, various support and advice agencies, such as Citizens Advice Bureau and law centres, and wider social networks were examined. The research involved both a telephone survey of 500 workers and qualitative interviews of a smaller number accessed through the survey respondents, the Citizens Advice Bureaux and other informal channels. Wider attitudes towards individual and collective representation and broader social engagement were also explored