Dual effects of economic dependence on platform workers’ work experiences? The role of autonomy, commitment and online review systems

Purpose The current study examines the relationship between platform workers’ economic dependence on platform work and work satisfaction in the context of algorithmic management. Design/methodology/approach We surveyed 1,094 platform workers on 6 online labor platforms in the Netherlands to evaluate their perceived economic dependence and levels of work satisfaction. Findings We find that the relationship between economic dependence and work satisfaction in an online labor platform environment is dual in nature. This depends on the type of mediator that is at play. We find that economic dependence and work satisfaction are negatively related when mediated by work autonomy, yet positively related when mediated by affective commitment. Moreover, the negative relationship between economic dependence and work satisfaction is attenuated when workers perceive that online labor platforms use algorithmic management in the form of online review systems to help them improve and perform more effectively. Originality/value This study sheds new light on the positive impact of platform workers’ economic dependence and platforms’ usage of online review systems on workers’ experience alongside their downsides that are (more) extensively reported on in the literature.