AOM Symposium: Putting the Diverse Worker Front and Center

A recent shift away from the large hierarchical organizations with long-term full-time jobs toward shorter-term alternative work arrangements led to the rapid rise of the gig economy. Previous research suggests that the gig economy is very diverse in terms of the work gig workers are doing and the types of individuals undertaking this work. However, within the gig workforce, it is not clear whether gig work may reduce inequalities for workers from underrepresented groups and backgrounds. This symposium aims to investigate the influence of various diversity dimensions (gender, race, ethnicity, work experience, and educational background) on the experiences of gig workers. Employing theoretical concepts and perspectives from risk management, knowledge management, regulatory focus theory, feminist science, and technology studies and applying them to a variety of conceptual, qualitative, and quantitative studies, we illustrate the specific challenges diverse gig workers face in the gig economy as well as zoom in on strategies that help diverse gig workers to succeed and thrive in the new world of work.