Ewertowska, TanyaRavenswood, KatherineDouglas, Julie2023-08-092023-08-092023Labour and Industry: A journal of the social and economic relations of work, ISSN: 1030-1763 (Print); 1030-1763 (Online), 0(0), 1-18. doi: 10.1080/10301763.2023.22435671030-17631030-1763http://hdl.handle.net/10292/16520Metaphorical concepts shape our thoughts, actions, and communication in everyday life. A rich network of metaphors underlies employment relations theories, framing our understanding of work and employment. This article urges employment relations researchers to use metaphors not just in theory, but in empirical data collection. Metaphor elicitation methods offer insights beyond what can be gleaned using traditional methods, such as interview, alone. Using the context of research into youth non-standard employment, this article proposes that through incorporating methods such as metaphor elicitation, employment relations research can uncover greater depth of experience, and empower workers who may lack voice or power.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/1503 Business and Management1604 Human Geography1605 Policy and Administration3505 Human resources and industrial relations3507 Strategy, management and organisational behaviour4407 Policy and administrationJournal ArticleOpenAccess10.1080/10301763.2023.2243567