The Taylor Review: Understanding the Gig Economy, Dependency and the Complexities of Control

New Technology, Work and Employment, Forthcoming

9 Pages Posted: 8 Apr 2019

See all articles by Alex Wood

Alex Wood

Oxford Internet Institute; University of Oxford; University of Bristol

Date Written: March 13, 2019

Abstract

I argue that the approach suggested by The Taylor Review is flawed due to a conceptual reliance on a fuzzy understanding of control. When control is understood sociologically, it becomes apparent that it is a core feature of all labour relations and thus exists across employment statuses and takes various complex forms. Therefore, focusing labour law upon a fuzzy notion of control, might actually reduce existing levels of protection by causing the reclassification of workers who labour under subtle, insidious and intangible forms of control. Labour laws exist to recognise the vulnerable position of employees due to their livelihood being dependent on the person hiring them. This dependency exists regardless of the form control which an employer operates. Therefore, I argue that returning the law’s focus to dependency offers a sounder basis for determining employment classification and labour rights.

Keywords: control, dependency, gig economy, labour process, power

Suggested Citation

Wood, Alex and Wood, Alex, The Taylor Review: Understanding the Gig Economy, Dependency and the Complexities of Control (March 13, 2019). New Technology, Work and Employment, Forthcoming , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3353393 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3353393

Alex Wood (Contact Author)

Oxford Internet Institute ( email )

1 St. Giles
University of Oxford
Oxford OX1 3PG Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire OX1 3JS
United Kingdom

University of Oxford

Mansfield Road
Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 4AU
United Kingdom

University of Bristol ( email )

36 Tyndall's Park Road
Bristol, Avon BS8 1TB
United Kingdom

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