A natural consequence of our move to Information Societies and digital economies that has been overlooked is how organisations are securing the talent they need. In this article we provide an overview of the ‘gig economy’, and the whether it is evident in the Caribbean region.

 

Although it is readily appreciated that the move to Information Societies and digital economies is changing the workplace, such as with respect to the tasks that must be executed and the skills required, it is also changing how organisations are accessing the skills and expertise they required. Increasingly, organisations are moving towards creating more temporary positions, and/or securing the services of independent contractors (or consultants) for very finite projects.

This trend, which is known as the ‘gig economy’ is transforming the workplace globally. First, organisations can better streamline their overheads and operations, and so realise greater savings. In turn, they can be more nimble, and choose to secure the expertise they require only when needed, and for a fixed period of time. Additionally, in having short-term positions, and depending on the labour laws in effect, it may not be necessary to provide the suite of company benefits to those workers, as compared with those in tenured positions in the same organisation, which again benefits the organisation.

On the other side of the fence, increasingly, workers are operating as independent contractors (or consultants). It thus means that they no longer have the security of long-term position in organisations that offer decent pay and other attractive benefits, which can be a source of great anxiety to many. However, there are also advantages:

  • In many instances, and thanks to the Internet, the work to be executed can be location independent, and so can be done from anywhere in the world
  • The actual working hours may be more flexible than what tends to obtain in traditional work arrangements
  • There is the potential to improve one’s work-life balance, and
  • There can be a greater sense of freedom and empowerment as a result of taking more tangible control of one’s life.

So, what obtains in the Caribbean?

To a considerable degree, many Caribbean organisations still follow traditional operating protocols. Telework, or remote working, arrangements still have not been widely adopted  across the region. As  result, employees are expected to physically be in office every day, unless they have undertaking work-related travel, or are otherwise excused.

On the hand, the Caribbean worker still expects to be in full-time and long term employment within an organisation. This posture is even the case among recent school-leavers, who would be considered digital natives, and do not know a time before the Internet. However, somehow they have being influenced by what could be described as outdated tropes on ‘today’s workplace’ and ‘the workplace of the future’, which have shaped their thoughts and attitude about the job market.

Having said this, some Caribbean businesses are already participating the gig economy by hiring individuals, who usually are located outside the region, to undertake specific short-term contracts. These services are being secured online through freelancing websites such as Elance and Upwork, through which organisations can connect with the expertise they require at competitive rates.

However, as Caribbean organisations begin to see themselves more from a global context, and the need to be either more competitive, and/or more visible, there will also be a greater need for more efficient operations, and to adopt more progressive business models and/or organisational practices. It is thus almost inevitable, and in the not too distant future, that Caribbean businesses and organisations will more actively structure their operations towards securing the services of temporary hires, whilst keeping a modestly-sized permanently employed team.

 

Image credit:  geralt (Pixabay)