How many times have you heard of the “Gig economy”? You know what a gig is, right? For those who know, don't spoil it: I'll tell everyone in short. A gig is temporary or casual work that is performed by an independent worker, often through an online platform. The so-called gig economy is based on the offer of this type of work, which is usually carried out on a part-time or "per gig" basis, on a single order, rather than with full-time employment and a traditional contract.
The pros? The gig economy also offers more flexibility and the ability to choose your own working hours, which can be particularly attractive to some people. The cons? Gig workers often do not have access to benefits such as paid leave, or (in some countries) healthcare, and may find it difficult to plan for their long-term future.
Piecemeal work
To date, there are several "gigized" jobs, and various platforms have sprung up that "break up" a continuous profession, making it "in pieces", or if you prefer by objectives. With all its burden of flexibility (and precariousness, in some ways) for employers and employees, the gig economy is changing the way companies hire and use staff. Any professions transformed by the gig economy?
- Rideshare driver: use own car to offer transportation services with apps like Uber o Lyft.
- Graphic or web designer: offers graphic or web design services with apps like Fiverr o Upwork. (remotely)
- Photographer or videomaker: sells images and videos, or offers photo/video services with apps like Depositphotos o Shutterstock. (remotely)
- Handyman, cleaner or mover: offers services of various kinds with apps such as taskrabbit o mobile (in person or remotely)
- Artisan: offers crafting or repairing services with apps like Etsy o Storenvy.
- Fitness or yoga instructor: offers workout services or yoga classes with apps like Classpass o Fit Reserve.
Gig economy, now also cashiers
The proposal of this startup made me turn up my nose. I don't know, there's something about it that doesn't convince me: but it's undoubtedly an example of how the Gig Economy can expand... or overflow and collapse. Bite Ninja is a company that has decided to change the way the quick service restaurant industry works by providing restaurants with cashiers… remotely.
The goal of this solution, conceived last year in the US, is to help restaurants solve the staff shortage problem they are facing across the country. The "ninjas" of Bite Ninja can apply through the app of the same name, and remotely choose a vacated work shift. At the end of the shift, they directly collect the money from the "Gig" created: no weekly pay but "a few, damned ones and immediately". This flexible system allows restaurants to have access to a greater quantity of workers and gives cashiers the ability to work a schedule that best suits their needs.
Can it work?
Will Clem, co-founder of Bite Ninja, says this solution is “game-changing” for the fast food industry, allowing restaurants to stay open and serve customers even if they don't have enough staff on site. I say that adopting this solution will lead to problems, such as the training and integration of remote workers. I imagine it will be essential to ensure that remote cashiers have all the necessary equipment and resources to do their job best, to avoid a dancing connection leaving a customer halfway through an order.
Aside from the challenges, the really bad points (my opinion) are others. There are many restaurants, one menu is not as good as another, convincing a customer while staying at home and perhaps without ever having covered that role is not the best. I understand everything, I understand society more and more cashless e contactless (for economic reasons, health reasons, whatever you want). It is a hybrid that cannot work, at least as conceived: just watch the introductory video to realize it. The human factor, paradoxically, is harmful.
If I have to go into a restaurant and see a guy in a little square who's been in there for 10 minutes, at that point better a robot, or an interactive kiosk, or whatever. In the world, for the sake of "work biodiversity" (pass me the term), not everything can, not everything must enter the Gig economy.