Organisational Justice Among Gig Drivers: A Case of a Transport Platform Company in Finland

Abstract

This research examines gig drivers’ experience of platform company fairness through the lens of organisational justice, and the platform company’s perceptions of fair management to understand this experience. The analysis is based on a survey of drivers doing car transfers in Finland. A total of 85% of drivers felt that the platform company was fair or somewhat fair towards them. The experience of fairness was explained by satisfaction with income, freedom and influence over income, support in the event of problems, a well-functioning platform app, and sufficient communication. All explanatory factors were related to organisational justice. The level of satisfaction with income reduced the experience of fairness the most and freedom and influence over income increased it. The driver’s dependence on the income from the platform, or whether working full-time or part-time, did not affect the experience of fairness. The results of our study suggest that gig transport work can also be carried out in a fair way, considering distributive, procedural, interpersonal and informational justice, the first one being the most challenging. The social implication of the results is that, if implemented fairly, platform work seems to be a good way to earn additional income in a flexible and convenient manner, alongside another job or studies. If implemented fairly, platform work can also obtain social acceptance and a role as an effective interface between work and workers in society.