How flexibility in gig work affects work-life balance: A case study of online service platform industry

Qiqiang Luo () and Nawin A/L Tharumarajah ()

International Journal of Public Policy and Administration Research, 2025, vol. 12, issue 2, 133-150

Abstract: The study explored the various challenges faced by gig workers that inhibit their ability to maintain a work-life balance. Although the concept of gig work has been studied earlier by scholars, there was a lack of research on how the work flexibility of gig workers results in poor management of work-life balance. It is important to note that the study was conducted on 150 gig workers who contributed to the research findings. The study revealed that factors such as unsocial working hours, job insecurity, unpredictable earnings, and prolonged stress significantly impact the work-life balance of gig workers across various platforms in the online service industry. Furthermore, job insecurity was the most significant factor affecting work-life balance. This can be attributed to the fact that job insecurity leads to emotional imbalances among gig workers, which can have serious repercussions. Overall, the research highlights the importance of designing worker-friendly employment practices in the gig economy. This study is of immense significance to the gig economy’s managers for devising employee-friendly management practices.

Keywords: Gig economy; Job insecurity; Stress; Unpredictable earnings; Unsocial working hours; Work-life balance. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://archive.conscientiabeam.com/index.php/74/article/view/4260/8601 (application/pdf)

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:pkp:ijppar:v:12:y:2025:i:2:p:133-150:id:4260

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in International Journal of Public Policy and Administration Research from Conscientia Beam
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Dim Michael ().