Ozzy Delaney/Flickr. (CC 2.0 by)
On 11 July, Theresa May heralded a new direction for her government: hard pressed workers would be given a voice on company boards and the excessive earnings inequalities that have become an entrenched feature of our workplaces should be reined-in. Though May's speech, made on the day that it was confirmed she would become prime minister, was short on specifics, the overall tone was suggestive of a more compassionate and inclusive Conservatism.
Whether or not this will materialise – and her voting record in office does not bode well – she was right to highlight the plight of the voiceless, low paid workers that are so common in 21st-century Britain. Subject to a daily diet of routine, high pressure, and closely monitored tasks, millions of workers experience minimal discretion, autonomy and dignity at work. Parcel delivery workers, currently in the spotlight because of the exponential rise of internet shopping, highlight many of the salient issues.
