![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/gig-economy-workers-constantly-worried-about-reviews/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/127478372_gettyimages-186124715-170667a.jpg&description=Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Contractors are being held hostage by the fear of bad reviews, research has foundIndependent contractors and freelancers are living in a state of "continuous worry" about the effect a negative review could have on their business.University researchers in Bristol and Oxford found review platforms are leaving so-called gig economy workers at the mercy of malicious customers.Their study found popular review sites often operated without checks and balances to verify the ratings.They also lacked effective processes for the contractor to seek redress. In the gig economy, instead of a regular wage, workers get paid for the "gigs" they do, such as a food delivery or a car journey.The study, carried out by staff from the University of Bristol and University of Oxford, found seven in 10 gig economy workers - from a sample of 900 across the UK and Europe - were worried about clients providing unfair feedback.Many were undertaking jobs for free to avoid negative reviews impacting their future earnings. Lead author Dr Alex Wood, a sociologist from the Bristol Business School, said: "It was shocking how workers expressed continuous worry about the potential consequences of receiving a single bad rating from an unfair or malevolent client, and how this could leave them unable to continue making a living."Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The gig economy covers freelance workers such as some couriers and taxi driversHe said there was creating a growing feeling of instability and concern about future access to work among self-employed contract workers. Interviews conducted with freelancers in cities including London, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Manila revealed some workers have been putting in extra hours unpaid or even doing entire jobs for free to avoid negative ratings.Dr Wood said: "We discovered some workers continued to make free revisions for clients to help ensure their satisfaction and favourable feedback."Others){kind=link}
Independent contractors and freelancers are living in a state of “continuous worry” about the effect a negative review could have on their business.
University researchers in Bristol and Oxford found review platforms are leaving so-called gig economy workers at the mercy of malicious customers.
Their study found popular review sites often operated without checks and balances to verify the ratings.
They also lacked effective processes for the contractor to seek redress.
In the gig economy, instead of a regular wage, workers get paid for the “gigs” they do, such as a food delivery or a car journey.