One of the biggest things that has impacted on the business world of late is the gig economy and the way companies now use people to fill important roles in their everyday activities. It used to be that firms would have full-time employees covering every aspect of their business but then outsourcing became popular, opening up a great range of opportunities for companies. Following on from this, firms realised that they could employ people to do one-off jobs for them or at least irregular jobs, ensuring that they only paid for the work they needed carried out.
This would be bad news for employees at the company who have found themselves surplus to requirements as companies have outsourced this work to external people. However, for the people who are on the outside doing these one-off jobs, this has been a boon for them. There is a great deal of debate about the gig economy but there is no getting away from the fact that this is a way of working that is of benefit to many people.
People who don’t have a job and need some extra cash find this is a good way to bring in additional funds. There are also people who have a job but need to bring in existing money, and the gig economy provides them with a way to earn extra income. You can also see why people like students or stay at home mums would find this style of working to be to their benefit, and with so many people willing to offer their time and skill to companies; you can see why the gig economy has taken off.
Corbyn opposed to gig economy
There have been critics though and Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party, has spoken out about this style of working and of the “unscrupulous bosses” who in his opinion have undermined workers rights. Corbyn spoke at the TUC Conference and he believes that the gig economy has had a negative impact on the mental health of workers. At the same time, Corbyn called on people to join a trade union in order to protect their rights. When it comes to the gig economy, there is more freedom and a greater opportunity for people to get on board with work but there are fewer rights in place for many people, and this is something that has to be remembered.
Temporary and short term contracts offer a flexibility that suits many bosses but it should be remembered that they suit many people too. Sadly, a long term employee of a company may find themselves no longer required by the firm but when it comes to people who need a helping hand or who are looking to develop skills and experience with respect to a certain role, this style of working may be ideal for them. It is important to remember that there are always two sides to a story and this is very true for the gig economy. Depending on your viewpoint, the emergence of the gig economy may be one of the best things to have happened to working life or it could be a complete disaster. Businesses will always be looking to find value for money and this is a big reason why the gig economy is taking off.
People need to bring in income
Another reason why the gig economy has proved to be so popular is that people need money. There is a desire for people to bring in more income and the flexibility and increased opportunities provided by working in the gig economy has proved hugely appealing to many people. We are living in an era when many people find it difficult to deal with their bills or have the money to do the things that they want to do, so anything that comes along and provides people with the chance to bring in more income has to be seen as a positive factor.
It may be that a guarantor loan is likely to be of benefit if you have an unexpected bill to deal with but when it comes to consistently bringing in more money and dealing with debt, there is a great deal to be said for finding work.
In this scenario, it is easy to see why many people oppose the gig economy but equally, this is a sector that is flourishing because it brings help to many people.
Andrew Reilly is a freelance writer with a focus on news stories and consumer interest articles. He has been writing professionally for 9 years but has been writing for as long as he can care to remember. When Andrew isn’t sat behind a laptop or researching a story, he will be found watching a gig or a game of football.