Reading
In Step 2 you watched a video that presented the Sharing Economy as a vibrant 21st century development.
But now you’re going to read about why people may not be so contented with this way of working.
Make a note of five disadvantages of this way of working:
You only get paid when you work.
Now read the article – were your ideas mentioned?
What is the 'gig' economy?
By Bill Wilson Business reporter, BBC News 10 February 2017 From the section Business What is the so-called "gig" economy, a phrase increasingly in use, and seemingly so in connection with employment disputes? According to one definition, it is "a labour market characterised by the prevalence of short-term contracts or freelance work, as opposed to permanent jobs". And - taking opposing partisan viewpoints - it is either a working environment that offers flexibility with regard to employment hours, or... it is a form of exploitation with very little workplace protection. The latest attempt to bring a degree of legal clarity to the employment status of people in the gig economy has been playing out in the Court of Appeal. A London firm, Pimlico Plumbers, on Friday lost its appeal against a previous ruling that said one of its long-serving plumbers was a worker - entitled to basic rights, including holiday pay - rather than an independent contractor. Like other cases of a similar nature, such as those involving Uber and Deliveroo, the outcome will now be closely scrutinised for what it means regarding the workplace rights of the millions of people employed in the gig economy in the UK. In the gig economy, instead of a regular wage, workers get paid for the "gigs" they do, such as a food delivery or a car journey. In the UK it's estimated that five million people are employed in this type of capacity. Not only do jobs include couriers but also ride-hailing drivers and video producers. Proponents of the gig economy claim that people can benefit from flexible hours, with control over how much time they can work as they juggle other priorities in their lives. In addition, the flexible nature often offers benefits to employers, as they only pay when the work is available, and don't incur staff costs when the demand is not there. Meanwhile, workers in the gig economy are classed as independent contractors.
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Read the article again. Answer the questions in your own words.