Bright and dark paths for career sustainability in precarious work: basic need fulfillment for gig drivers

Purpose Platform-based gig work roles are defined by precarious conditions, which present challenges for continued happiness, health and productivity. The literature features limited understanding of processes by which workers may attain career sustainability, and it is unclear how temporary roles (though common in modern careers) may contribute to a sustainable career. We studied when and how platform-based gig drivers may perceive these roles to contribute to achieving a sustainable career. Design/methodology/approach We conducted focus groups with 53 platform-based gig drivers and integrated basic psychological needs theory in analyses. Findings In a darker path, precarity was experienced as an identity threat and led to frustration of basic psychological needs, resulting in the role being seen as unsustainable. Yet findings also suggest a brighter path. Despite the acknowledgement of objective external constraints on behavior, drivers' subjective perceptions of their actions being volitional were most important for basic psychological need fulfillment and perceiving the role to be sustainable. Even if they also viewed the role as temporary, some drivers indeed viewed their gig work involvement to positively contribute to their career sustainability. This is because they developed self-management and resourcefulness in the role, which they perceived to be useful in their career going forward. Originality/value This study contributes to career sustainability theory through integrating basic psychological need fulfillment through role experiences as a mechanism for attaining a sustainable career and answering when and how temporary roles contribute to supporting long-term career sustainability.