Behind the Dot on the Map: The Hidden Labour within the Gig Economy
https://megsbaaportfolio.blogspot.com Magidson. C (2022) Most of us today have gone onto an app on our phone and had something delivered to us, such as a takeaway or a food shop. This means we are consumers within the gig economy. This type of courier job is portrayed as having freedom from being self-employed, which sounds ideal for some, but this is far from reality. (Authors own image, 2025) The algorithmic management system, that was adopted by the capitalist class (Cant. C, 2018), causes stress and burnout as it prioritises speed and efficiency with deliveries, and imposes a performance-based payment system. The employees lack access to health coverage and paid leave, and the job itself is physically taxing (Useche. S. A et al. 2025). What this job environment highlights is the intersection between the gig economy and emotional labour, due to the unstable work environment that is created. This c...
