15. Indeterminacy

The chapter evaluates the concept of ‘indeterminacy’ within the employment relationship. Explicitly rooted in work sociology and employment relations literature, the concept of indeterminacy concerns how the nature and outcomes of the employment relationship can be unpredictable and uncertain for employees and employers. After defining the concept, the chapter maps the thematic development of indeterminacy and discusses key empirical studies highlighting its relevance. Conceptual and empirical critiques are then considered before outlining potential avenues for future research that apply indeterminacy to better understand the contemporary challenges of work.