The Agency Search: The Meaning of Work for App Drivers

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to investigate how app drivers are giving meaning to their work, taking as a theoretical assumption the model proposed by Rosso, Dekas, & Wrzesniewski (2010). Originality/value: Internationally, the volume of empirical research involving digital labor markets is considered to be low. Nationally, research in the context of Sharing Economy rarely focuses on the labor perspective. Despite being a growing phenomenon, no studies were found on the production of meanings and meaningfulness of work by app drivers. Design/methodology/approach: This qualitative and exploratory research was carried out with 37 app drivers between May and September 2017, in Porto Alegre (RS, Brazil). Randomly selected, respondents were called to a work route by the transport application. The interviews’ content was categorized and analyzed according to the framework of Rosso et al. (2010). Findings: Elements that refer to all the model quadrants were found: “self-connection”, “individuation”, “contribution”, and “unification”. The predominant meaning, however, is desire, seeking and valuing by the agency, in the mechanisms of self-efficacy and self-management, especially in the financial, autonomy and flexibility perspectives. This research contributes to the intersection of the study of the labor world transformations and the construction of meanings and meaningfulness, using a framework little used in Brazilian research. It also collaborates to broaden the understanding of digital labor markets, especially their impact on workers.

The Consequences of Participating in the Sharing Economy: A Transparency-Based Sharing Framework

“…In the car- and ride-sharing sector, providers and users benefit from trust-based commercial sharing. Drivers face lower entry barriers into the driving market and receive better pay while having more flexible working hours than they often do at traditional taxi companies (Kashyap & Bhatia, 2018; Vaclavik & Pithan, 2018). Users in turn profit from increased efficiency and affordability, in particular when using carpooling options, such as UberPool or Lyft Line (Sarriera, Álvarez, Blynn, Alesbury, Scully, & Zhao, 2017).…”

“…Personal growth and getting to know, connect, and interact with strangers in a meaningful way mark some of the key benefits of taking part in the sharing economy. Taking part in trust-based commercial sharing can boost providers’ popularity (Mauri, Minazzi, Nieto-García, & Viglia, 2018), help them achieve their authentic self (Vaclavik & Pithan, 2018), and instill a sense of achievement and empowerment (Al-Ani & Stumpp, 2016; Tan, Tan, Lu, & Land, 2017), compared with those who do not take part in the sharing economy.…”

“…Further, sharing-economy platforms can have a social appeal for users (Tussyadiah & Pesonen, 2018) and providers (Newlands, Lutz, & Fieseler, 2018). Sharing-economy participants expand their social network value (Rihova et al, 2018) by making new contacts (Bernardi, 2018; Cherry & Pidgeon, 2018; Cockayne, 2016; Ladegaard, 2018; Mariotti et al, 2017; Milanova & Maas, 2017; Mun, 2013; Richardson, 2015; Sthapit & Jiménez-Barreto, 2018; Vaclavik & Pithan, 2018). Trust-based commercial sharing can further generate a sense of community (Edbring et al, 2016; Miller, Ward, Lee, D’Ambrosio, & Coughlin, 2018; Mody et al, 2017; Mun, 2013; Punel et al, 2018) and improve city connectedness (Teubner & Flath, 2015).…”

The Rise of Private Passenger Transport Start-Ups in Brazil and Their Relationship with Unemployment

“…For Vaclavik and Pithan (2018), there is a still not very well-established formalization in the service provision practiced by drivers, which is inherent in the formation of new jobs, where the regulations need to be reviewed. The main issue addressed with great fear by the drivers is safety, which currently has a measure following incidents and crimes, through the Personal Accident Insurance for passengers, regulated by SUSEP.…”

Mecanismos de control de la plataforma Uber sobre sus conductores asociados en la Región Metropolitana de Chile

“…Esto ha generado niveles de flexibilidad laboral inéditos, lo que se ha interpretado de forma ambivalente en torno a la tensión entre autonomía y control (Wood, 2019). Se ha argumentado a favor del trabajo en plataformas como Uber en función de esta flexibilidad y la posibilidad de acceder de forma fácil a trabajo en mercados laborales limitados (Vaclavik & Pithan, 2018). Mientras que entre sus detractores se esgrime su naturaleza precaria producto del tipo de vínculo entre el trabajador y la empresa.…”