Gig economy: Difference between revisions
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==Etymology== | ==Etymology== | ||
The term ''Gig'' derives from the sub-culture of semi-amateur music performances where performers are payed per show or ''gig''. In gig economy terms each task or job is a ''gig'' and therefore companies attempt to justify not being obliged to pay a fixed wage and benefits on the grounds that workers are paid on a per-job basis as 'freelancers' and therefore are not 'employees'.<ref>[[wikt:gig#English|"gig" English usage]] ''Wiktionary''</ref> | The term ''Gig'' derives from the sub-culture of semi-amateur music performances where performers are payed per show or ''gig''. In gig economy terms each task or job is a ''gig'' and therefore companies attempt to justify not being obliged to pay a fixed wage and benefits on the grounds that workers are paid on a per-job basis as 'freelancers' and therefore are not 'employees'.<ref>[[wikt:gig#English|"gig" English usage]] ''Wiktionary''</ref> | ||
== Conditions == | |||
Due to the nature of the gig economy, people who work for the corporations offering this type of labor are not legally considered employees but are rather classified as 'independent contractors,' and therefore the de-facto employers are not required by law to comply with even the most basic labor laws like [[minimum wage]] or maximum hours.<ref name=":2" /> | |||
==Ideological justification == | ==Ideological justification == | ||
Arguments by apologists in favor of gig work are usually grounded in [[Petite bourgeoisie|petite-bourgeois]] ideology, especially [[Individualist-collectivist dichotomy|individualism]]. Arguments include 'being your own boss,' increased 'workplace flexibility,' '[[upward mobility]]' and the prospect of somehow entering the [[Bourgeoisie|bourgeois]] class, etc.<ref name=":1">Moti Benti. (December 4 2018). ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20230214184436/https://www.cpreview.org/blog/2018/12/ride-sharing-and-neoliberalism-ubers-exploitation-of-immigrant-taxi-drivers Ride-Sharing and Neoliberalism: Uber’s Exploitation of Immigrant Taxi Drivers]. Columbia Political Review''. Archived from the [https://www.cpreview.org/blog/2018/12/ride-sharing-and-neoliberalism-ubers-exploitation-of-immigrant-taxi-drivers original]. </ref> | Arguments by apologists in favor of gig work are usually grounded in [[Petite bourgeoisie|petite-bourgeois]] ideology, especially [[Individualist-collectivist dichotomy|individualism]]. Arguments include 'being your own boss,' increased 'workplace flexibility,' '[[upward mobility]]' and the prospect of somehow entering the [[Bourgeoisie|bourgeois]] class, etc.<ref name=":1">Moti Benti. (December 4 2018). ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20230214184436/https://www.cpreview.org/blog/2018/12/ride-sharing-and-neoliberalism-ubers-exploitation-of-immigrant-taxi-drivers Ride-Sharing and Neoliberalism: Uber’s Exploitation of Immigrant Taxi Drivers]. Columbia Political Review''. Archived from the [https://www.cpreview.org/blog/2018/12/ride-sharing-and-neoliberalism-ubers-exploitation-of-immigrant-taxi-drivers original]. </ref> | ||
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=== Lack of political action by the state === | === Lack of political action by the state === | ||
The lack of action to tackle these practices should not be surprising. Gig workers are almost universally from low-income backgrounds and in affluent nations often immigrants from much poorer nations.<ref name=":1" /> Add to this that those who benefit from the services offered by this practice are generally far more affluent and view gig-based platforms such as Uber as a convenience, there is little political will to tackle the issue in a meaningful way. Actions to limit or eliminate this system have thus far been limited to court rulings that do little beyond acknowledge that gig workers are 'workers', (if even that) thereby allowing the practice to continue with the lack of oversight and regulation it has enjoyed since its inception.<ref>Rachel M. Cohen. (October 12 2022) [https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2022/10/12/23398727/biden-worker-misclassification-independent-contractor-labor ''The coming fight over the gig economy, explained'']. ''Vox''.</ref> | The lack of action to tackle these practices should not be surprising. Gig workers are almost universally from low-income backgrounds and in affluent nations often immigrants from much poorer nations.<ref name=":1" /> Add to this that those who benefit from the services offered by this practice are generally far more affluent and view gig-based platforms such as Uber as a convenience, there is little political will to tackle the issue in a meaningful way. Actions to limit or eliminate this system have thus far been limited to court rulings that do little beyond acknowledge that gig workers are 'workers', (if even that) thereby allowing the practice to continue with the lack of oversight and regulation it has enjoyed since its inception.<ref name=":2">Rachel M. Cohen. (October 12 2022) [https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2022/10/12/23398727/biden-worker-misclassification-independent-contractor-labor ''The coming fight over the gig economy, explained'']. ''Vox''.</ref> | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
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"Why Is Everything Turning Into Uber?" by Second Thought |
Gig economy is a euphemism intended to legitimize a system of pseudo-employment whereby proletarians are informally contracted to perform tasks on a piecemeal basis, usually via a proprietary app controlled by the contracting company. Gig work has grown to take up an ever larger proportion of the overall employment landscape, with many fields previously worked by full employees with rights and protections now being 'Uberized'.[1]
The Gig economy is part of a broader worrying trend in employment within modern neoliberal economies, alongside zero-hour contracts and the increasing use of temporary workers to do work that previously would be hired as a full employee with benefits and protections.
Etymology
The term Gig derives from the sub-culture of semi-amateur music performances where performers are payed per show or gig. In gig economy terms each task or job is a gig and therefore companies attempt to justify not being obliged to pay a fixed wage and benefits on the grounds that workers are paid on a per-job basis as 'freelancers' and therefore are not 'employees'.[2]
Conditions
Due to the nature of the gig economy, people who work for the corporations offering this type of labor are not legally considered employees but are rather classified as 'independent contractors,' and therefore the de-facto employers are not required by law to comply with even the most basic labor laws like minimum wage or maximum hours.[3]
Ideological justification
Arguments by apologists in favor of gig work are usually grounded in petite-bourgeois ideology, especially individualism. Arguments include 'being your own boss,' increased 'workplace flexibility,' 'upward mobility' and the prospect of somehow entering the bourgeois class, etc.[4]
In reality, these arguments usually mean that workers are able to be forced to work for pay, hours, and workplace conditions that would be illegal if they were a 'conventional' employee. Operators often emphasize that workers have the ability to refuse jobs, implying worker agency, but in practice on many platforms doing this will result in a kind of de-prioritization or other punishments by which it becomes harder to get offered future jobs.[1]
Lack of political action by the state
The lack of action to tackle these practices should not be surprising. Gig workers are almost universally from low-income backgrounds and in affluent nations often immigrants from much poorer nations.[4] Add to this that those who benefit from the services offered by this practice are generally far more affluent and view gig-based platforms such as Uber as a convenience, there is little political will to tackle the issue in a meaningful way. Actions to limit or eliminate this system have thus far been limited to court rulings that do little beyond acknowledge that gig workers are 'workers', (if even that) thereby allowing the practice to continue with the lack of oversight and regulation it has enjoyed since its inception.[3]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Vallas, Steven and Schor, Juliet B. 2020. What Do Platforms Do? Understanding the Gig Economy. pp. 273-294. Annual Reviews.
- ↑ "gig" English usage Wiktionary
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Rachel M. Cohen. (October 12 2022) The coming fight over the gig economy, explained. Vox.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Moti Benti. (December 4 2018). Ride-Sharing and Neoliberalism: Uber’s Exploitation of Immigrant Taxi Drivers. Columbia Political Review. Archived from the original.