Algorithms of time: how algorithmic management changes the temporalities of work and prospects for working time reduction

Agnieszka Piasna

Cambridge Journal of Economics, 2024, vol. 48, issue 1, 115-132

Abstract: Algorithmic management has a clear potential to reduce time spent at work by increasing efficiency in task allocation and performance, and by replacing some forms of human labour. As a result it should, in theory, advance the implementation of working time reduction policies. Automation of organisational functions indeed increases time-efficiency through the scheduling of work in more finely grained time units, closely matched with demand and the minimising of unproductive periods. This results in atomised and punctuated working time. However, instead of an increase in leisure time, workers who are managed algorithmically experience pressures towards incessant availability. This results in an apparent paradox whereby the time needed to complete paid work shrinks, but the time that must be made available for work expands. This article addresses this puzzle by developing an analytical approach to understanding changes to the temporalities of work ushered by the introduction and expansion of algorithmic management.

Keywords: Algorithmic management; Automation; Working time; Platform work; Flexible scheduling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/cje/bead017 (application/pdf)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:oup:cambje:v:48:y:2024:i:1:p:115-132.

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://academic.oup.com/journals

Access Statistics for this article

Cambridge Journal of Economics is currently edited by Jacqui Lagrue

More articles in Cambridge Journal of Economics from Cambridge Political Economy Society Oxford University Press, Great Clarendon Street, Oxford OX2 6DP, UK.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Oxford University Press ().