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Cited by 157Digital Economy and Work TransformationEmployment and Welfare StudiesLegal and Labor Studies

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 86 of the 90 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Über-Alienated: Powerless and Alone in the Gig Economy

Open access
Glavin, Paul, Bierman, Alex, Schieman, Scott·2021·Work and Occupations
DOI 10.1177/07308884211024711
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Abstract

While the gig economy has expanded rapidly in the last decade, few have studied the psychological ramifications of working for an online labor platform. Guided by classical and modern theories of work and alienation, we investigate whether engagement in platform work is associated with an increased sense of powerlessness and isolation. We analyze data from two national surveys of workers from the Canadian Quality of Work and Economic Life Study in September 2019 ( N = 2,460) and March 2020 ( N = 2,469). Analyses reveal greater levels of powerlessness and loneliness among platform workers—a pattern that is not fully explained by their higher levels of financial strain. Additional analyses of platform activity reveal that rideshare driving is more strongly associated with powerlessness and isolation than engagement in online crowdwork. We interpret our findings in light of platform firms’ use of algorithmic control and distancing strategies that may undermine worker autonomy and social connection.

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Crossref · 10.1177/07308884211024711

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Show all 90 references

Research works printed but not linked: 10

  1. Berg J., 2016, Comp. Labor Law Policy Journal, 37, 543
  2. Calo R., 2017, Colum. L. Rev, 117, 1623
  3. Corporaal G. F., 2017, Platform sourcing: How fortune 500 firms are adopting online freelancing platforms
  4. De Stefano V., 2016, Comparative Labor Law & Policy Journal, 37, 471
  5. Farrell D., Greig F. (2016). Paychecks, paydays, and the online platform economy. In Proceedings annual conference on taxation and minutes of the annual meeting of the national tax association (Vol. 109, pp. 1–40). National Tax Association.
  6. Kessler S., 2018, Gigged: The end of the job and the future of work
  7. Marx K., 2009, The economic and philosophic manuscripts of 1844 and the communist manifesto
  8. Mayo E. (1949). Hawthorne and the Western electric company. In Public administration: Concepts and case s (pp. 149–158). Houghton Mifflin.
  9. Rosenblat A., 2016, International Journal of Communication, 10, 3758
  10. Swain D., 2012, Alienation: An introduction to Marx’s theory

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Metadata

Authors
Glavin, P., Bierman, A., & Schieman, S.
Affiliations
  • McMaster University (CA)
  • University of Calgary (CA)
  • University of Toronto (CA)
Corresponding author
Glavin, Paul
ORCID
Venue
Work and Occupations
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2021-06-22
Volume
48
Issue
4
Pages
399-431
ISSN
  • 0093-9285 (ISSN-L)
  • 0730-8884
  • 1552-8464
DOI
10.1177/07308884211024711
OpenAlex
W3173882469
Cited by
157
References
90
Citations by year
2026: 35 · 2025: 44 · 2024: 36 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 3
FWCI
27.02
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
Work and Occupations (publishedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Digital Economy and Work Transformation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Employment and Welfare Studies
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Industrial relations › Legal and Labor Studies
Keywords
gig economy, platform work, alienation, powerlessness, loneliness, social isolation, algorithmic control, employee autonomy, financial stress, psychological well-being

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