The Experts below are selected from a list of 11526 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
John Kitching - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Tracking UK freelance workforce trends 1992-2015
2015Co-Authors: John KitchingAbstract:Using data from the UK Labour Force Survey, the article describes the major trends in freelance workforce numbers during the past 20 years. Operationalising a definition of freelancing in terms of Labour Force Survey categories, the data indicate both a substantial absolute increase in freelancer numbers and growth as a proportion of all workforce jobs. Possible explanations for the increase are discussed, paying particular attention to the demand for Freelancers. Although a number of studies suggest a shift towards the adoption of flexible labour strategies, the evidence base on the forces underlying the expansion of freelance working is limited and fragmented. Research questions seeking to explore the trends in greater detail are identified.
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Tracking UK freelance workforce trends 1992-2014
2015Co-Authors: John KitchingAbstract:Using data from the UK Labour Force Survey, the paper describes the major trends in freelance workforce numbers during the past 20 years. Operationalising a definition of freelancing in terms of Labour Force Survey categories, the data indicate both a substantial absolute increase in freelancer numbers and growth as a proportion of all workforce jobs. Possible explanations for the increase are discussed, paying particular attention to the demand for Freelancers. Although a number of studies suggest a shift towards the adoption of flexible labour strategies, the evidence base on the forces underlying the expansion of freelance working is limited and fragmented. Research questions seeking to explore the trends in greater detail are identified.
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Are Freelancers a neglected form of small business
Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 2012Co-Authors: John Kitching, David SmallboneAbstract:Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that freelancing is neglected by researchers as a form of small business activity. It aims to consider whether it is possible and useful for researchers to distinguish Freelancers from other types of small business owner.Design/methodology/approach – The paper does this in three ways: first, by conceptualising freelance status; second, by examining the research literature on freelance workers; and, third, by estimating the size of the UK freelance workforce to demonstrate their importance.Findings – The definition proposed permits identification of many types of freelancer hitherto neglected by researchers. Freelancers are a large and growing proportion of the UK business stock and the recent recession has led to a further expansion.Originality/value – Given the size and distinctiveness of the freelance workforce, researchers might explore the similarities and differences between Freelancers and other small business owners with regard to: their motivat...
Denis Strebkov - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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the autonomy paradox how night work undermines subjective well being of internet based Freelancers
Industrial and Labor Relations Review, 2019Co-Authors: Andrey Shevchuk, Denis Strebkov, Shannon N DavisAbstract:Nonstandard work schedules have important consequences for workers in the new economy. Using unique data on the work times of Internet-based Freelancers, specifically, self-employed professionals participating in a Russian-language online labor market (N = 4,280), the authors find that working at night has adverse effects on workers’ subjective well-being as measured by satisfaction with work–life balance, life satisfaction, and emotional exhaustion. Night work has differential effects on Freelancers’ well-being based on gender, partnership status, and caregiving responsibilities. Highlighting the autonomy paradox, the authors’ findings document how Freelancers’ discretionary application of a flexible schedule to work at night consequently undermines their well-being.
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Safeguards against Opportunism in Freelance Contracting on the Internet
British Journal of Industrial Relations, 2017Co-Authors: Andrey Shevchuk, Denis StrebkovAbstract:Based on a large sample of 5,756 Russian‐speaking Freelancers from an international online labour market, this study provides rare quantitative evidence of the external labour market where Freelancers act under constant threat of client‐side opportunism. We explore how the formalization of agreements, social embeddedness and mode of communication are associated with the incidence of opportunism and further possibilities of resolving problems caused by agreement violations. Social ties and face‐to‐face contact appear to be better safeguards against opportunism in freelance contracting, which is largely informal. The study has important implications for the debates about non‐standard work, online labour markets and job quality in the new economy.
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The rise of freelance contracting on the Russian-language Internet
Small Enterprise Research, 2015Co-Authors: Andrey Shevchuk, Denis StrebkovAbstract:International interest in freelance contracting as a distinct socio-economic phenomenon has been growing in recent years in the labour market and entrepreneurship literatures. Drawing on unique dataset comprising three waves of survey data gathered over a five-year timeframe, we shed light on the development of the Russian-language online labour market, which comprises Freelancers from Russia and other transition post-socialist economies. Our findings reveal trends in the changing demographic profile of Freelancers as well as important insights about their careers, work values and challenges. We argue that these Freelancers represent a new generation of well-educated and motivated workers who are engaged in ICT and creative industries and are crucial for modernizing transition economies. However, the high levels of informality and client opportunism evident within the freelance economy constitutes an important socio-economic problem. By examining the experiences of Freelancers in the context of transition...
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Pathways to Satisfaction with Work-Life Balance: The Case of Russian-Language Internet Freelancers
Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 2014Co-Authors: Shannon N Davis, Andrey Shevchuk, Denis StrebkovAbstract:In this paper we examine satisfaction with work-life balance among non-standard workers. Using unique data from 6,009 Russian-language internet Freelancers, who are typically both autonomous contractors and teleworkers, we make two key contributions. We found evidence to support the demand-resource model among self-employed professionals who typically have autonomy and control over their time, although these processes differ somewhat by gender. We also argue that overall life satisfaction is a significant influence on satisfaction with work-life balance and also acts as a mediator for the influence of some demands and resources on both male and female Freelancers’ satisfaction with work-life balance. Implications for future research and social policy are discussed.
Arjen Van Witteloostuijn - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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The needs of Freelancers and the characteristics of ‘gigs’: Creating beneficial relations between Freelancers and their hiring organizations
Emerald Open Research, 2019Co-Authors: Melody Barlage, Arjan Van Den Born, Arjen Van WitteloostuijnAbstract:More and more workers in Western economies are operating as Freelancers in the so-called ‘gig economy’, moving from one project—or gig—to the next. A lively debate revolves around the question as to whether this new employment relationship is actually good for innovation in the 21 st century economy. Proponents argue that in this gig process valuable knowledge is created and transferred from one organization to the next via Freelancers through their sequence of temporary gigs or projects. Antagonists reason that Freelancers are only hired as one-trick ponies on a transactional basis, where knowledge is neither created nor shared. In this study, we focus on the characteristics of gigs. Which project characteristics lead to increased engagement of Freelancers, and hence to knowledge-sharing behavior? Our study suggests that the gig economy can indeed lead to increased knowledge sharing by and engagement of freelance workers, provided that organizations and Freelancers structure and shape gigs in such a way that they: (1) not only suit the task requirements at hand and (2) fit with the acquired skills of the freelancer, but that these gigs also (3) leave ample of room for the freelancer’s individual growth and development of new skills. This suggests that innovative organizations will need to shape gigs in such a way that Freelancers are not only hired for their expertise, but rather that gigs also provide a learning opportunity for Freelancers.
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the needs of Freelancers and the characteristics of gigs creating beneficial relations between Freelancers and their hiring organizations
Emerald Open Research, 2019Co-Authors: Melody Barlage, Arjan Van Den Born, Arjen Van WitteloostuijnAbstract:More and more workers in Western economies are operating as Freelancers in the so-called ‘gig economy’, moving from one project—or gig—to the next. A lively debate revolves around the question as to whether this new employment relationship is actually good for innovation in the 21 st century economy. Proponents argue that in this gig process valuable knowledge is created and transferred from one organization to the next via Freelancers through their sequence of temporary gigs or projects. Antagonists reason that Freelancers are only hired as one-trick ponies on a transactional basis, where knowledge is neither created nor shared. In this study, we focus on the characteristics of gigs. Which project characteristics lead to increased engagement of Freelancers, and hence to knowledge-sharing behavior? Our study suggests that the gig economy can indeed lead to increased knowledge sharing by and engagement of freelance workers, provided that organizations and Freelancers structure and shape gigs in such a way that they: (1) not only suit the task requirements at hand and (2) fit with the acquired skills of the freelancer, but that these gigs also (3) leave ample of room for the freelancer’s individual growth and development of new skills. This suggests that innovative organizations will need to shape gigs in such a way that Freelancers are not only hired for their expertise, but rather that gigs also provide a learning opportunity for Freelancers.
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Drivers of freelance career success
Journal of Organizational Behavior, 2012Co-Authors: Arjan Van Den Born, Arjen Van WitteloostuijnAbstract:Recent evidence shows that the frequently proclaimed collapse of the traditional career model is actually not supported by job tenure data. This paper argues that the observed stability of job tenure might be explained by an increasing number of shamrock organizations. This organizational form has three types of workers: core employees, professional Freelancers, and routine workers. In such an organization, two very different career models coexist. The organization largely determines the career of the core employee, whereas the individual essentially shapes that of the professional freelancer. This paper studies extensively the career of this second group: the professional freelancer, a growing phenomenon in many developed countries but not yet the focus of many career studies. We develop a freelance career success model on basis of the intelligent career framework augmented by insights from literature on entrepreneurship. Data are from a web survey with responses from about 1600 independent professionals in the Netherlands, in combination with 51 in-depth interviews. We provide two main contributions. First, we report findings from the first large-scale quantitative study into freelance career success. Second, this study enhances our understanding of the success of the modern career by building bridges between career and entrepreneurship literatures. We conclude that the external environment in which an individual freelancer operates is the most important factor determining career success. The study therefore suggests that more work needs to be performed on the relationship between the environment and individual career success.
Andrey Shevchuk - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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the autonomy paradox how night work undermines subjective well being of internet based Freelancers
Industrial and Labor Relations Review, 2019Co-Authors: Andrey Shevchuk, Denis Strebkov, Shannon N DavisAbstract:Nonstandard work schedules have important consequences for workers in the new economy. Using unique data on the work times of Internet-based Freelancers, specifically, self-employed professionals participating in a Russian-language online labor market (N = 4,280), the authors find that working at night has adverse effects on workers’ subjective well-being as measured by satisfaction with work–life balance, life satisfaction, and emotional exhaustion. Night work has differential effects on Freelancers’ well-being based on gender, partnership status, and caregiving responsibilities. Highlighting the autonomy paradox, the authors’ findings document how Freelancers’ discretionary application of a flexible schedule to work at night consequently undermines their well-being.
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Safeguards against Opportunism in Freelance Contracting on the Internet
British Journal of Industrial Relations, 2017Co-Authors: Andrey Shevchuk, Denis StrebkovAbstract:Based on a large sample of 5,756 Russian‐speaking Freelancers from an international online labour market, this study provides rare quantitative evidence of the external labour market where Freelancers act under constant threat of client‐side opportunism. We explore how the formalization of agreements, social embeddedness and mode of communication are associated with the incidence of opportunism and further possibilities of resolving problems caused by agreement violations. Social ties and face‐to‐face contact appear to be better safeguards against opportunism in freelance contracting, which is largely informal. The study has important implications for the debates about non‐standard work, online labour markets and job quality in the new economy.
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The rise of freelance contracting on the Russian-language Internet
Small Enterprise Research, 2015Co-Authors: Andrey Shevchuk, Denis StrebkovAbstract:International interest in freelance contracting as a distinct socio-economic phenomenon has been growing in recent years in the labour market and entrepreneurship literatures. Drawing on unique dataset comprising three waves of survey data gathered over a five-year timeframe, we shed light on the development of the Russian-language online labour market, which comprises Freelancers from Russia and other transition post-socialist economies. Our findings reveal trends in the changing demographic profile of Freelancers as well as important insights about their careers, work values and challenges. We argue that these Freelancers represent a new generation of well-educated and motivated workers who are engaged in ICT and creative industries and are crucial for modernizing transition economies. However, the high levels of informality and client opportunism evident within the freelance economy constitutes an important socio-economic problem. By examining the experiences of Freelancers in the context of transition...
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Pathways to Satisfaction with Work-Life Balance: The Case of Russian-Language Internet Freelancers
Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 2014Co-Authors: Shannon N Davis, Andrey Shevchuk, Denis StrebkovAbstract:In this paper we examine satisfaction with work-life balance among non-standard workers. Using unique data from 6,009 Russian-language internet Freelancers, who are typically both autonomous contractors and teleworkers, we make two key contributions. We found evidence to support the demand-resource model among self-employed professionals who typically have autonomy and control over their time, although these processes differ somewhat by gender. We also argue that overall life satisfaction is a significant influence on satisfaction with work-life balance and also acts as a mediator for the influence of some demands and resources on both male and female Freelancers’ satisfaction with work-life balance. Implications for future research and social policy are discussed.
Shannon N Davis - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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the autonomy paradox how night work undermines subjective well being of internet based Freelancers
Industrial and Labor Relations Review, 2019Co-Authors: Andrey Shevchuk, Denis Strebkov, Shannon N DavisAbstract:Nonstandard work schedules have important consequences for workers in the new economy. Using unique data on the work times of Internet-based Freelancers, specifically, self-employed professionals participating in a Russian-language online labor market (N = 4,280), the authors find that working at night has adverse effects on workers’ subjective well-being as measured by satisfaction with work–life balance, life satisfaction, and emotional exhaustion. Night work has differential effects on Freelancers’ well-being based on gender, partnership status, and caregiving responsibilities. Highlighting the autonomy paradox, the authors’ findings document how Freelancers’ discretionary application of a flexible schedule to work at night consequently undermines their well-being.
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Pathways to Satisfaction with Work-Life Balance: The Case of Russian-Language Internet Freelancers
Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 2014Co-Authors: Shannon N Davis, Andrey Shevchuk, Denis StrebkovAbstract:In this paper we examine satisfaction with work-life balance among non-standard workers. Using unique data from 6,009 Russian-language internet Freelancers, who are typically both autonomous contractors and teleworkers, we make two key contributions. We found evidence to support the demand-resource model among self-employed professionals who typically have autonomy and control over their time, although these processes differ somewhat by gender. We also argue that overall life satisfaction is a significant influence on satisfaction with work-life balance and also acts as a mediator for the influence of some demands and resources on both male and female Freelancers’ satisfaction with work-life balance. Implications for future research and social policy are discussed.
