Gig Economy and Suicide
Irregular Income vs Fixed Expense: The Permanent Hustling of 20 Million Slaves in America
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According to the newly released data, an estimated 20.4 million U.S. workers have alternative arrangements for their primary employment—this includes independent contractors, on-call workers, temporary help agency workers, and workers provided by contract firms.
The gig economy has become an intrinsic part of our digital society. But its meteoric growth has not left much room for forethought about the impact it might have on society and employment, and there is still much debate around the benefits and risks of this way of working. Working more flexibly on a job-by-job basis is touted by some as the ultimate in employment, and provides freedom for those that desire it. However, independent contractors do not have benefits and job security and peace of mind. Furthermore, large companies are accused of profiting from worker instability.
Temporary, irregular work may be a boon for those looking for extra money on the side or with unpredictable schedules, but there is a large middle class that relies heavily on gig work, cannot afford instability, and are not getting fairly paid on regular basis. For the disenfranchised middle working two or three jobs and changing one every six months, gig work does not offer the job security needed for planning a proper life.
Google now employs more contractors than full-time employees, this creates a second class of workers, sub-Googlers, that aren’t getting any benefits despite working for one of the most successful companies in the world. Apart from undermining the stability of individual workers, the erosion of the middle working class for the benefit of corporate profits represents a profound change in our society, and we should ask ourselves at what cost this change in work is happening. This situation is becoming all too common, as multi-national organizations that profit from the labor of gig economy contractors are operating in a legal and ethical grey area. For gig economy companies themselves, this grey area enables their continued existence and profitability.
Gig economy has shifted nearly all risk away from employers and onto contract workers, leaving contractors that rely on getting work consistently with little in the way of bargaining power. Good for workers, or good for business?
The gig economy is a frank warning for individuals and regulators alike about the intricacies of integrating technology with our society. Given the unbridled success of gig economy companies, it seems that a lot more oversight is needed to untangle this phenomenon before we stumble into a crisis of inadequate and volatile employment.
ashley
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