The lifestyle of the gig worker. In 2020 it came for you, now what?

In the last 12 months or so the world of work, and the way of working, has completely changed for many. Many people were able to achieve their “dream” to work from home. Some of these later found this to be a curse and a scourge they could not escape from.

Welcome to the world of the outsider

I am writing as a long term gig worker, contractor, outsourced person, whatever you wish to call it. I have been outsourced, or outsourcing myself, for a long time. This wasn’t a hard choice at the time, but it has had many challenges along the way. Many people have told me over the years that I have the best life in the world. Changing locations on a daily, or hourly basis, working with different people, different industries, heck, even the idea of different office coffee has excited people. I would, of course, sell the virtues to them, as well as myself, while still being careful to balance it with the downsides.

“What downsides can working for yourself possibly have? You are free!”

I heard this, or something similar, extremely often over the last 12 or so years. Of course I can list them all, but let’s just pick a few:

• the lack of holidays;

• the isolation and feeling of being alone a lot of the time;

• the fact that tomorrow can be your last day, as you are seen as more expendable than others.

I chose these examples as they are relevant to what I am now hearing from many “permanent” workers of today. After spending months at home, often alone. There’s no chance to really take a holiday, and with months on video calls people are starting to feel vulnerable, isolated and lost. Many have simply stopped putting their video feed on at all. Many feel:

• less valued

• less value in their work

• like they could lose their jobs tomorrow

• that no one notices their work in the way they did when in the office as part of a team.

I see this coming around full circle

Gig employees have often said the same to me and I, at times, felt the same. People often comment that they see my work as easy and carefree. Partly, because that is my nature in their workplace, as well as the vagrant style in itself. Many see me moving from one place to another as a way of escapism. It doesn’t however, mean that is my reality. Maybe this is how things come home to roost.

With “normal” workers feeling bad, uneasy and unloved, I am not trying to Nelson Muntz you with a “Ha-Ha!”. I am saying maybe we, as a whole, need to look at how gig workers are treated. From my own personal experience, I know that when you have an external/contractor/consultant or something to that effect in a job title or an email address of “non-employees” it is quite disheartening. While it also sets a precedence, that someone is not like you, or not as important and therefore can be treated differently.

Now is a great time to make that change as people are at home and feeling the same feelings that many of the gig workers have felt in the past and maybe even more so now. These gig workers, who now have a higher chance of being unemployed or underemployed, will appreciate it. You might get better performance, better retention and improve the lives of those in your employ as well. When they notice that you are acting with heart and soul.

How do you feel in your work now? Has it changed with the Work From Home pandemic?