The gig economy refers to a trend away from traditional employment models towards the use of people to fulfil short-term projects or “gigs”. It is becoming increasingly prevalent with the advent of technologies that allow freelancers to bid for or otherwise engage clients on a piecemeal basis. Uber, Deliveroo and Upwork are all examples of disruptive technologies that are putting clients in touch with service providers in real-time online marketplaces. These pages cover the “Uberisation” of the economy and the employment status of so-called “gig workers”.
The Supreme Court's decision in the Uber v Aslam case is set to have significant implications for the app-based working model. But what comes next for Uber and its workers?