Working at the boundary between market and flexicurity: Housekeeping in Danish hotels

Abstract

Abstract. Though housekeeping in Danish hotels is unskilled, low‐paid work, because of Denmark's compressed wage structure it is comparatively well paid. The authors examine the working conditions and experience of housekeepers in eight hotels of various types, to establish the industry's response to growing competition and pressure to restructure. Approaches include reorganizing work, increased work intensity, outsourced and in‐house housekeeping, and Denmark's own “flexicurity”. Flexible work arrangements, job security and in‐kind social benefits prove to compensate for scanty unemployment insurance and career prospects.