Tim Thorlby’s report examining the consequences of insecure and lone working for our relationships and health. 11/03/2024

The Ties That Bind is the first report in Theos’ 2024 Work Shift series, exploring how a renewed focus on the relational elements of work could improve the labour market.  

This report draws together evidence on the health and social impacts of two significant trends transforming the labour market in the UK – the rise of lone working and the rise of insecure work – to argue that a loss of mutuality in the workplace has made millions of us both poor and ill. More than half of the UK workforce now work alone for all or part of the week, while nearly one in five UK workers are now in insecure work – over half of whom are in work that is both insecure and low paid.  

The report draws upon Christian thinking to argue that greater attention to ‘the ties that bind’ is needed to ensure that increasingly flexible working arrangements can also be dignified, fair, well–connected and healthy.

About the author

Tim Thorlby is the director of Beautiful Enterprise, deploying research to help shape and strengthen good ethical businesses, sustainable social enterprises, charities and public services. He was previously part of the founding team and managing director of Clean for Good, an award–winning ethical office cleaning company for London promoting fair pay and dignified work. Before that he worked in public policy consultancy. You can also read Tim Thorlby on the dignity of good work here.  

Read the full report here.

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