How algorithms have changed who controls workers in gig economy

Many restaurants in Ireland have struggled to rebound from the impact of the pandemic. However, food-delivery platforms have provided them with a much-needed lifeline. Deliveroo's Irish operations saw its gross profit rise by 75% in 2021, with record profits also being recorded at Just Eat. Huge demand from customers who were unable to dine at their favourite restaurants subsequently led to a surge in courier numbers working for these platforms.

We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage PreferencesBut the reality appears to tell an increasingly different story. Although flexibility and autonomy are regularly touted as hallmarks of work in the digital age, developments have increasingly cast doubt on this narrative.

We need your consent to load this YouTube contentWe use YouTube to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences Our findings paint a challenging picture for gig workers, who find themselves at the mercy of multiple stakeholders, each with their own set of unique demands. To maintain access to work and secure a steady income, gig workers are compelled to constantly navigate the intricate dance of satisfying labour platforms, customers, and even restaurants providing services on food-delivery platforms.

Customers, for example, wield a high degree of control by quantitatively rating gig workers’ performance and therefore influencing how they approach tasks. Workers with low ratings may face repercussions from the algorithm, which can range from subtle warnings to complete removal from the platform. A broader understanding of algorithmic control and its challenges faced by gig workers can pave the way for meaningful reforms and improved working conditions

Finance Finance Latest News, Finance Finance Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

New farmers’ political party has become ‘serious discussion point’ in OireachtasContentious issues among disaffected rural voters include turf-cutting, nitrates, bog rewetting, roads investment and forestry privatisation
Source: IrishTimes - 🏆 3. / 98 Read more »