Reconceptualizing Employee Voice in the Gig Economy: An Integrative Framework

Abstract

The rapid expansion of the gig economy has challeng ed traditional notions of employee voice, which are typically rooted in formal, long-term employment relationships. Gig workers—often classified as independent contractors—operate in fragmented, digitally mediated, and algorithmically controlled work environments, where conventional mechanisms of voice such as collective bargaining, grievance systems, or open dialogue with management are often absent or ineffective. This conceptual paper aims to reconceptualize employee voice within the gig economy by integrating perspectives from institutional theory, self-determination theory, and digital labor studies. We propose a novel integrative framework that captures both individual and collective voice behaviors among gig workers, emphasizing digital activism, community-based support networks, and platform-responsive voice mechanisms. The framework also considers the unique constraints imposed by algorithmic management and data asymmetries. By expanding the lens of voice beyond traditional employment settings, this paper contributes to the growing discourse on worker agency in precarious work environments. The proposed framework not only offers fresh directions for academic inquiry but also holds implications for policy makers, labor organizations, and digital platforms seeking to enhance worker engagement and voice in the future of work.