The gig economy—does litigation pose a threat?

Article summary

Employment analysis: The ‘gig economy’, which comprises of short-term and unpredictable work arrangements negotiated on online peer-to-peer marketplaces, raises a number of interesting questions about the future direction of employment law. Advocates argue that the gig economy offers boundless innovation and empowers both workers and entrepreneurs, while critics suggest that it disenfranchises the workforce and undermines workers’ rights. In the final part of our series examining the legal implications of the gig economy, Paul Kelly, partner at the employment team at Blacks Solicitors, explores whether an increase in litigation could lead the gig economy to decline as fast as it rose.