Voice in platform-enabled gig work

This chapter examines research on voice in the context of online labour platforms. Voice arrangements across different types of online labour platforms are reviewed and lessons drawn for understanding the way gig workers' voices are enabled or not, as well as how workers and their advocates are fighting for voice. We show how the institutional complexity of platform based HRM practices and the responses of platforms to this complexity, both shape opportunities and constraints for gig workers to exercise voice. We find mechanisms associated with this that both enable and disable voice. We also report on research showing worker and union generated mechanisms to support gig workers to fight for voice and balance power relations between gig workers and both platforms and clients/requesters. We discuss what this research suggests about voice in the context of platform enabled gig work and conclude by considering future research directions