Labor control and task autonomy under the sharing economy: a mixed-method study of drivers’ work
Abstract This mixed-method study analyzes the labor process and labor supply of drivers on a Chinese mobile-travel platform. Different from the control of the traditional labor process, such platforms have a more-fragmented control of labor, which coexists with workers’ task autonomy. Based on this...
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2019-07-01
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doaj-c47c7ba0a2a34b93bc4d29c65e5b13b02020-11-25T02:56:03ZengSpringerOpenThe Journal of Chinese Sociology2198-26352019-07-016112110.1186/s40711-019-0098-9Labor control and task autonomy under the sharing economy: a mixed-method study of drivers’ workQingjun Wu0Zhen Li1School of Labor and Human Resources, Renmin University of ChinaChina Central Television, CCTVAbstract This mixed-method study analyzes the labor process and labor supply of drivers on a Chinese mobile-travel platform. Different from the control of the traditional labor process, such platforms have a more-fragmented control of labor, which coexists with workers’ task autonomy. Based on this assessment, we propose three core mechanisms by which platforms control the labor process and produce work consent: task autonomy, performance-related pay and motivation, and the star rating system. Under the influence of these three mechanisms, workers form both active consent to and passive acceptance of the platform and its rules. Moreover, we analyze data from a survey of 15,484 drivers to show that drivers’ work consent could be transformed into overwork, although identity difference is at play in the transformation process.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40711-019-0098-9Sharing economyLabor processLabor supplyTask autonomyWork consent |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Qingjun Wu Zhen Li |
spellingShingle |
Qingjun Wu Zhen Li Labor control and task autonomy under the sharing economy: a mixed-method study of drivers’ work The Journal of Chinese Sociology Sharing economy Labor process Labor supply Task autonomy Work consent |
author_facet |
Qingjun Wu Zhen Li |
author_sort |
Qingjun Wu |
title |
Labor control and task autonomy under the sharing economy: a mixed-method study of drivers’ work |
title_short |
Labor control and task autonomy under the sharing economy: a mixed-method study of drivers’ work |
title_full |
Labor control and task autonomy under the sharing economy: a mixed-method study of drivers’ work |
title_fullStr |
Labor control and task autonomy under the sharing economy: a mixed-method study of drivers’ work |
title_full_unstemmed |
Labor control and task autonomy under the sharing economy: a mixed-method study of drivers’ work |
title_sort |
labor control and task autonomy under the sharing economy: a mixed-method study of drivers’ work |
publisher |
SpringerOpen |
series |
The Journal of Chinese Sociology |
issn |
2198-2635 |
publishDate |
2019-07-01 |
description |
Abstract This mixed-method study analyzes the labor process and labor supply of drivers on a Chinese mobile-travel platform. Different from the control of the traditional labor process, such platforms have a more-fragmented control of labor, which coexists with workers’ task autonomy. Based on this assessment, we propose three core mechanisms by which platforms control the labor process and produce work consent: task autonomy, performance-related pay and motivation, and the star rating system. Under the influence of these three mechanisms, workers form both active consent to and passive acceptance of the platform and its rules. Moreover, we analyze data from a survey of 15,484 drivers to show that drivers’ work consent could be transformed into overwork, although identity difference is at play in the transformation process. |
topic |
Sharing economy Labor process Labor supply Task autonomy Work consent |
url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40711-019-0098-9 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT qingjunwu laborcontrolandtaskautonomyunderthesharingeconomyamixedmethodstudyofdriverswork AT zhenli laborcontrolandtaskautonomyunderthesharingeconomyamixedmethodstudyofdriverswork |
_version_ |
1724714494898208768 |