As noted in the previous two chapters, traditional approaches to work-based exploitation and harm tend to focus on criminal–legal ‘extremes’: on cases that are seen as the most deviant and abhorrent. The book is an attempt to move beyond this approach and to widen the definition and debate over what constitutes problematic worker treatment. To this end, in Chapters Four to Six the various ways in which workers may be subject to often legal and non-coercive control in order to make them ‘good’ and ‘better’ are mapped. Before embarking upon this endeavour, however, it is important to examine some lessons of history with respect to the control and emancipation of labour.

Specifically, this chapter focuses on eight particular lessons. These are purposefully selective. It is not possible within a book like this to provide a definitive history of work-based control, exploitation and harm. Collectively, the lessons of history show how progress towards reducing work-based exploitation and harm is possible and, indeed, that the world has moved on a long way towards this end. Nevertheless, they also show how difficult it often is to challenge established structures, systems and norms. Related to this, in many instances change has been gradual and incremental; though there are occasional cases (such as the abolition of slavery and development of the trade union movement) where paradigm shifts do occur.

Widespread social stratification

Throughout post-nomadic human history the settled societies that have developed have been stratified. This division, in various ways, has had direct consequences in terms of shaping peoples’ employment experiences. Those at or nearest the bottom of the social order have tended to be most at risk of work-based control, exploitation and harm.

In pre-industrial societies access to land was key to determining one's social standing. Following the Norman invasion of England (post 1066), for instance, plots of land were divided roughly into the size of today's English counties. These were then given to the King's noblemen (Barons, Earls, Dukes and so on) who fought for him in battle. These ‘Tenants in Chief ‘ then divided the land up further to the Norman knights who had also fought in battle.