Fluid Workers and Fluid Work Arrangements in the Age of Digital Technologies

The symposium examines the rise of the “fluid workforce,” which includes gig/app/platform workers, freelancers/independent contractors, paid-crowdsourced workers, moonlighters, or hybrid/remote workers whose roles transcend traditional employment boundaries. Driven by digital technologies and accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, fluid work offers increased flexibility and autonomy but also raises critical concerns around job security, social protections, and workplace equity. Despite significant media attention, academic research on the implications of fluid work remains relatively scarce. This symposium, linked to a relevant Personnel Review special issue sponsored by the ILO, seeks to bridge this gap by exploring the organizational, managerial, and well-being dimensions of fluid work arrangements. The five presentations featured in the symposium span diverse worker groups, contexts, and research methodologies, offering valuable insights for future research, and for building equitable and sustainable workforce ecosystems.