Laying the Groundwork for a Worker-Centric Peer Economy

TL;DR

This paper investigates the design of a worker-centric peer economy that benefits gig workers through ethnographic research, identifying key facets for creating fair, protective, and mutually beneficial labor markets.

Contribution

It introduces seven key considerations for designing a worker-centric gig economy, emphasizing worker benefits and protections often lacking in traditional gig markets.

Findings

Identified seven key facets for worker-centric gig economy design

Provided ethnographic insights across various gig sectors

Outlined practical guidance for fair and protective labor market design

Abstract

The "gig economy" has transformed the ways in which people work, but in many ways these markets stifle the growth of workers and the autonomy and protections that workers have grown to expect. We explored the viability of a "worker centric peer economy"--a system wherein workers benefit as well as consumers-- and conducted ethnographic field work across fields ranging from domestic labor to home health care. We discovered seven facets that system designers ought to consider when designing a labor market for "gig workers," consisting principally of the following: constructive feedback, assigning work fairly, managing customer expectations, protecting vulnerable workers, reconciling worker identities, assessing worker qualifications, & communicating worker quality. We discuss these considerations and provide guidance toward the design of a mutually beneficial market for gig workers.