Recognising the Person at Work: the Case for a Relational Approach to Autonomy

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to examine the notion of personal autonomy at the heart of employment law, and the implications for the design of employment status. Methodology: This article reviews legal theories of autonomy as they relate to employment and discusses case law pertaining to employment status.Findings:Current modes of the designation of employment status do not work because they are underpinned by unsuitable models of personal autonomy. Research limitations/implications: This article suggests failings in current models of employment status. Originality: The article is original as it investigates the literature on personal autonomy and applies it in a novel way to employment status. It also suggests a new model upon which employment status should be based.