Would you take up “gig” work if the employment rights were better?

Two in five people would be more likely to take up so called “gig” work – where they are paid flexibly and do not have a fixed contract, if employment rights relating to this type of work were improved, research has found.

The study of 2,000 UK adults also found that, while 77% of people would prefer to be full-time employees, almost half were already in gig-style jobs or would consider working in this way.

Gig work was more popular among younger workers, with 58% of 18 to 34-year-olds surveyed saying they would consider working in the gig economy, compared with just 30% of those aged over 55. However, many flagged fears about not being able to earn a decent income, job security and lack of rights such as holiday and sick pay.

The research shows that while many workers are open to the idea of gig working, for many their concerns over job security still outweigh the benefits this type of work can offer.

A number of cases have been brought recently attempting to determine what rights gig workers should have. In October, a tribunal decided Uber’s drivers should be classified as workers rather than self-employed. The taxi-hailing app has appealed against the decision and the case is scheduled to be heard in September.