Making Ends Meet: In-work Poverty in the UK

The case discusses the concept of in-work poverty with reference to the UK. It addresses a key societal challenge in view of achieving the social sustainability goals that most European and OECD countries face. The framing story introduces Alicia who has become the main breadwinner of her family after her husband had a work accident. Her part-time job as a cleaner in London doesn't allow her family to make ends meet. The case highlights the different issues that contribute to in-work poverty including remuneration (low wages), labour market attachment (low working time, periods of unemployment or inactivity), restrictions in access to social benefits, housing cost, the household size and situation (eg lone parents, unemployed partner) and the decline in workers' power. This case is part of the CBS free case collection (visit www.thecasecentre.org/CBSfreecases for more information on the collection).