However, there are differences between these types of work, which can be divided into three categories:
• Unpaid work • Employment • Volunteerism.
UNPAID WORK
Unpaid work is any work undertaken for no financial gain. For example, being a stay-at-home parent, doing homework or preparing the family dinner.
Features of Unpaid Work • No payment is received for the work. • The work benefits the individual worker, their family or their friends.
• There is usually no formal structure to the work (i.e. it does not have to be carried out at or for a set time, or in a particular place).
Benefits of Unpaid Work
• Learning new information and skills. • Doing something you enjoy. • The satisfaction of achieving a goal. • Fostering good personal relationships.
Example
Kayla loves gardening. At the weekend, she spends many hours working in her garden at home. This work is unpaid work.
EMPLOYMENT
Employment is any work done in return for payment. Paid work can be full time or part time. The hours worked may be regular (e.g. 40 hours a week) or irregular.
As we learned in chapter 2, statutory deductions collected from employment are used by the government to support society. Employment is any work done in return for payment.
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An employed person may be hired to work for someone else (as an employee) or may work for themselves (self-employed).
