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Flexible schedules -

Gig workers, in theory, have control over their schedules. They can choose when they want to work and for how long.

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Most people have two or more jobs -

According to Statista, 58% of gig economy workers work 30 hours or less a week in the US, and 56% have two or more jobs.

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Peak times and flexible work hours -

However true this may appear to be, the hours consumers are looking to order a pizza haven’t changed. The times that people want to be driven haven't changed. So in some gig-working areas, the workers must still work specific hours if they’re going to earn.

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Flexible work hours are very important for workers in the gig economy -

In 2018, Statista found that flexible working hours were very important (59%) or important (34%) for gig workers.

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Some 60 million gig workers in the US -

Of a workforce of over 160 million in the United States, over 60 million are estimated to be engaging in gig work.

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Independence -

As opposed to traditional work, gig workers usually will have more independence. They won’t have someone looking over their shoulder or pushing them to make deadlines.

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Freelancers wouldn't go back -

CNBC reported that 51% of freelancers would not go back to traditional work.

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Are they missing out? -

This is true, but as with all changes, especially in employment, it comes with challenges. For example, some employees work better and are more motivated to work when they are physically in an office and surrounded by others doing the same as them.

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People find it hard to work at home -

For example, Martec Group conducted a study which found that the smallest group (17%) of employees working from home were those who were “thriving.”

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Belonging, commitment, and engagement -

Since most gig workers are not surrounded by employees doing the same work, they may lack engagement, commitment, and a sense of belonging.

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Co-working spaces have popped up to meet this need -

This is where co-working spaces have come in recently, at least for certain kinds of work.

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Gig workers do what they can to socialize -

Making your way through any city, you will also see groups of food delivery workers gathering and socializing.

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Diverse work -

Gig workers in some fields (marketing, coding, writing, etc.) can find all different kinds of projects to work on online, so work can be exciting for them.

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More freelancers tend to find work interesting -

While 57% of full-time freelancers say they do interesting work, only 37% of traditional job holders say they do interesting work.

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Financial security -

Pay is one of the most disputed and controversial issues surrounding the gig economy. It is, by nature, unstable. In most cases, if you are sick, have had an accident, or have suffered a loss, you can kiss your wages goodbye.

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A "pay-as-you-go" workforce -

This is, in part, why it is so attractive for companies. They can have the workforce they need when they need it, and they don’t have to pay them to “stand around.”

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Benefits and taxes -

Companies don’t have to pay wages to employees when they don’t need them. What’s more, they don’t have to manage any of the other traditional benefits for employees either, like health insurance. Most often, workers have to handle their taxes too as if they are self-employed.

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The job hunt -

Finding your next job as a gig worker is another concern. Drivers will usually accept a job that comes up on their app, but for people working in marketing or web design, for example, they will have to keep an eye out for their next job. This might include writing emails or cover letters on their own time.

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Most people choose to work this way -

McKinsey found that 72% of independent workers are such by choice. They split this into four categories: "Casual earners" (working part-time to supplement income), "reluctants" (those who prefer traditional work but need to work this way), "financially strapped" (those who have to do side jobs to supplement their income), and "free agents" (those who are full-time independent workers by choice).

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Start-ups benefit hugely -

As companies generally can pay people on a one-off basis, they can scale faster. Small start-ups don’t even have to invest in office equipment or overhead.

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Specialists on tap -

What’s more, it’s great for businesses because there is such a wide variety of skilled professionals that they can choose from. If you need someone to make an '80s-style avant-garde poster for a new biscuit brand, you can find the right person to do it on Fiverr or Upwork.

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The global outsourcing market -

The global outsourcing market amounted to US$92.5 billion in 2019.

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Quality assurance -

As you can’t stand over these employees, there is no guarantee that the work will be done on time and to the quality that is expected. Most websites that provide platforms to employers and gig workers have taken this into account, offering significant insight into the workers through information on their past work, experience, and with rating systems.

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Profit over people? -

As usual in the private sector, the broader issues are that companies driven by profit will take what they can get until there is pushback.

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Union members still slowly declining -

In recent years, it seems like workers in the modern economy have lost sight of the value of unionizing. In the US, the percentage of unionized workers dipped from about 20% in 1983 to 6.2% in 2019.

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Work-life balance -

In one sense, flexibility and work-life balance have been at the tip of everyone's tongue for quite some time, and gig working offers that. But is it being achieved at the expense of more important factors?

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Equity and accountability -

For example, equity and accountability aren’t principles at action considering the delivery driver whose tire bursts late on a Saturday night and has to take the financial hit to fix their bike and for being out of work until it's fixed.

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Traditional work benefits overlooked -

End-of-life care plans that have been fought for in the past can be easily overlooked in this new economy.

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Ensuring equity and fairness going forward -

As with most changes in society, there will be problems with gig work that will need to be ironed out. The gig economy has been on the radar of the independent workforce, policymakers, academics, and companies for quite some time. The solution to ensuring workers’ rights relies on all parties, but particularly governments, policymakers, and on companies “playing ball.”

Sources: (Upwork) (Statista) (Forbes)(CNBC) (MBO Partners) (McKinsey & Company)

See also: Essential tips to becoming an effective remote worker

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