Article 2W796 The Guardian view on making work good: will slowly do it? | Editorial

The Guardian view on making work good: will slowly do it? | Editorial

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Editorial
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The Taylor report on work has disappointed many with its pragmatic approach. But it's better than nothing

The Taylor report was commissioned nine months ago. Theresa May was in her prime, apparently in a job for life, or at least until 2020, and she was keen to add substance to her early rhetoric on the "just about managing" by commissioning Matthew Taylor, a respected Blair-era policy guru, to examine ways of improving work. No one foresaw the irony in these altered times of Mrs May trying to boost her chances of survival by presenting a report on precarious work.

Mr Taylor, a man who has always preferred a nudge to a shove, was never likely to mount a revolutionary challenge to the established order. But expectations were high, and now many people are disappointed. Yet it is a very substantial report. Mr Taylor rightly defends its essential recognition of the value not just of work but of good work. And it is important to remember that despite record levels of employment, many people want to work more hours than they do and others, classed as economically inactive, want a job. Britain's labour market too often offers low pay, low productivity and long hours. These are deeply ingrained problems.

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