The Era of Employee Freedom with the Gig Economy
Beyond Flexibility: The Era of Employee Freedom with the Gig Economy
Until today, working in traditional call centers has often been defined by fixed shifts, physical offices and limited flexibilities. This situation is now changing rapidly. People who work with the usual working order frequently express their discomfort with fixed working hours, location dependency, being tied to a space and hierarchical business relationships. New generation employees, on the other hand, demand a more independent, new generation work culture.
Most companies see these demands as limited to “remote working”. From time to time, there are even companies that use calling employees back to the office as a method of punishment during periods of tightening company finances. However, the real demand of the new generation of employees is to be in control of the time, place and way of doing business.
We even have some good data to offer you for this situation! According to Deloitte’s 2023 Gen Z and Millennial Survey, 81% of Gen Zs and 76% of Millennials want more flexible working hours or reduced working hours. In the same survey, 46% of Gen Z and 39% of Millennials say they constantly feel stressed or anxious at work.
According to a Future Forum study, more than 80% of workers want freedom of location and 93% want to make their own work schedules. According to Deloitte’s 2024 study, 45% of the next generation of workers say they have side jobs such as selling products or services online, carpooling or selling their artistic creations. The reasons for taking on these side jobs include a range of motivating factors, such as monetizing their hobbies, developing important skills and making a positive impact on their communities. In short, ‘job descriptions’ are being reshaped by a new generation of workers, and it’s up to us to keep up and follow the developments closely!
The Most Up-to-date Working Model; What Does Flexible Working Model Mean?
The simplest and most accurate way to describe the flexible working model is to say that ‘employees have more say in their working lives’. We call flexible working a way of working that can be shaped according to the individual needs of employees, that responds more clearly to personal needs, and that goes beyond the 9-5 limitation.
It flies in the face of much of what the traditional working model imposes, and encompasses a wide range of practices such as remote working, hybrid models, freelancing and project-based work structures. Whereas in traditional work arrangements, employees are expected to be in the office for fixed periods of time, the flexible working model removes this requirement. Employees can conduct their work in accordance with their own productivity hours, life patterns and personal priorities. Especially with digitalization and the development of technological tools, this model offers many advantages in terms of both productivity and work-life balance.
As we mentioned above, many employees today, especially Generation Z, prioritize these situations in their career choices. For all these reasons, it would not be right to look at the flexible working model as a trend. This way of working is a necessity of our age rather than a trend.
Gig Economy and Freedom to Work : The Foundation of a New Generation Work Culture
There is a new term that we have been hearing a lot in the business world lately, ‘Gig Economy’. So, what is the gig economy, how is it defined? What are the advantages of knowing and recognizing the gig economy as an employer or employee? In this title, we introduce you to the gig economy culture!
The gig economy is an economic model based on project-based, flexible and independent work without a fixed employer. In this model, individuals are positioned as independent professionals offering their own services rather than being “employees” of a specific organization. In this structure, each employee has his or her own sole proprietorship and provides services to the companies of their choice within the days and hours they set. This approach is called “freedom of work” in the world of work.
This model of work respects individual choice, flexibility and freedom and expands the space for freedom. People no longer work just to earn a living, but to produce in a way that is compatible with their way of life.
Working in the Gig Economy: A Life Choice, Not Just a Job
A professional in the gig economy can serve multiple employers at the same time, take a break from work when they wish, and shape their day according to their needs. For younger generations, women, students and people living in rural areas, this freedom offers the opportunity to integrate work into the natural flow of life.
According to the World Bank’s September 2023 report, the ‘Temporary Work Economy’ accounts for 12 percent of the global workforce, and the online temporary workforce is estimated at more than 150 million people. Platforms such as Uber, Lyft and Airbnb are the cornerstones of this economy, enabling employers and freelancers to meet across international borders.
In 2024, 59 million Americans worked as freelancers in the Gig economy. This is equivalent to about 36% of the total workforce. Furthermore, according to TransUnion’s Fall 2024 Report, 62% of US adults earn additional income through one or more Gig platforms.
Similar to this transformation in the US, Europe is also experiencing a similar transformation. In Europe, the gig economy is growing rapidly, driven by the proliferation of digital platforms and increasing demand for flexible working models. By 2024, there will be around 28 million freelancers across Europe.
This rapid rise of the gig economy has also attracted the attention of regulators. The US Department of Labor has introduced new rules to reclassify many independent workers as “employees”. The new 2024 European Union directive establishes that a platform worker is considered a “deemed employee” and employers have the burden of proving otherwise.
Gig Economy is Growing in Turkey
In Turkey, the gig economy is growing with increasing interest in digitalization and flexible working models. Freelancing and micro-jobs have become popular, especially with the influence of the young population and entrepreneurship. This shows a shift away from traditional employment models and towards more flexible and independent forms of work.
Champs Technology is the leading representative of Gig economy in Turkey with more than 40,000 platform members. Champs Teknoloji combines freedom and efficiency by strengthening the Gig economy working system with digital infrastructure and organizational arrangements.
Champs professionals do not work fixed shifts, but on their own schedule. This flexibility makes life easier, especially for women, students, retirees and people with disabilities. Work no longer has to interfere with personal life. Work becomes part of life. A few hours in the morning after dropping the children off at school, or after dinner, or at the weekend for extra income. Employees decide for themselves when to work.
This structure is not only an economic model for Champs Teknoloji; it is also a philosophy of freedom. The company also places a special emphasis on freedom to work in its ESG Policy.
The Business Models Included in the Gig Economy are as follows;
When it comes to the gig economy, many different business models are involved. It is possible to talk about gig economy in different and diverse fields. These jobs, sometimes through a digital platform, sometimes shaped by individual skills, offer individuals freedom, flexibility and multiple income opportunities. Here are the main business models of the gig economy:
Freelance Work Model
The freelancing model is based on individuals earning income by taking on project-based work according to their areas of expertise. Freelancers in many fields such as web design, software development, content production, translation or digital marketing establish short-term collaborations with companies. In this model, freelancers set their own work schedules, build their own client portfolios and shape their income through their own efforts.
Platform Based Services
This business model allows individuals to offer needed services through a platform. In this model, employees can go online at any time during the hours when the system is active, provide services and earn income. Individuals who work with their own vehicles, bicycles or motors can earn a daily income without having to work a full-time job.
Digital Product and Content Sales
In this model, individuals turn their creativity into a digital income. Digital content such as music, e-books, visual design, video tutorials or stock photos are offered for sale on platforms. Today, there are many platforms where you can run this business model. Thanks to these platforms, people can reach the other side of the world and earn income without the need for a physical product.
Micro Entrepreneurship
Micro-entrepreneurship is one of the most popular business models of recent times. We call this business model micro-entrepreneurship, in which individuals produce their own products and sell them directly to consumers via social media or various platforms. Handcrafted products, natural soaps, designer accessories, second-hand clothes or homemade food are examples of this model. With this sales model, producers have the chance to grow their sales by reaching the right audience in a very short time.
As a result, the Freedom of Work that comes with the Gig Economy is no longer a choice, but a right. This libertarian structure is not only good for individuals but also for the world. Not having to go somewhere to work reduces traffic and carbon emissions. Office spaces become smaller. Resource use becomes efficient. The gig economy is irreversibly changing our working model.
References:
- Deloitte. (2023). Gen Z and Millennial Survey 2023.
- Future Forum. (2023). Future Forum Pulse
- Deloitte. (2024). 2024 Global Gen Z and Millennial Survey.
- World Bank. (Eylül 2023). Working Without Borders: The Promise and Peril of Online Gig Work.
- TransUnion. (2024). Consumer Pulse Study – Fall 2024 Report.
- European Commission. (2024). Platform Work Directive Adopted by the European Parliament.
- Finans Kulüp. (2024). Gig Ekonomisi 2031’e Kadar Yaklaşık 2 Trilyon Dolara Ulaşacak.
- Forbes Türkiye. (2024). Bir Bağımsızlık Manifestosu: Gig Ekonomisi.
