Behind innovation stands an army of precarious workers?

Technological advances in retail and digital work often promise to simultaneously improve worker productivity and consumer convenience. In reality, while the promise of automation is appealing, the reality of its implementation reveals significant complexity, particularly in terms of cost, efficiency, and public perception. This creates tensions and increases job insecurity.

In this respect, the technologies introduced by Amazon are undoubtedly very inventive, at least in appearance. However, these changes have raised concerns about their long-term impact on retail employment, but also about how technology is affecting customary interactions in retail spaces.

The example of Amazon Fresh, like its younger sibling Amazon Go, is revealing. Touted as the future of retail, these stores apply “just walk out” technology to allow customers to grab products from shelves and then leave the store without going through a checkout. While this may seem like a welcome simplification of the shopping process, the technology masks a layer of operational complexity that relies on an unassuming and often uncertain workforce.

Amazon has decided to partially abandon its technology in Amazon Fresh supermarkets in the United States. The system will be replaced by clever “carts” that enable a more customary payment process using scanning technology. In the UK, smaller Amazon Go stores and their checkout-free technology will be maintained.

Sensors and people

To achieve this result, Amazon’s physical stores have a vast number of sensors and cameras. The whole thing is using sophisticated algorithms to track customers’ movements and the items they choose. At least that’s how Amazon presented its revolutionary stores. However, behind these sophisticated algorithms in India, there is an army of workers who must monitor and correct errors in the implemented system. This reliance on unseen labor undermines the promise of efficiency of the technologies implemented by Amazon. Moreover, the demand for remote labor paid according to local standards exposes the flaws of full automation and raises ethical concerns about the working conditions of these workers.

Amazon has promised innovations in the past, less radical than they seem, with technology (via its MTurk platform) that promises to transform work by allowing individuals to perform microtasks for (often minimal) pay in a context that promotes worker flexibility and autonomy. It’s called turczenie. Idea mechanical turkish comes from 18^{to me} age and is registered in the spectrum of human-machine interactions.. In fact, Mechanical Turk was an automaton supposedly playing chess, when in reality there was a man hiding inside it.

In a recently published studywe interviewed Turkers to shed airy on the fundamentally ambivalent nature of these up-to-date forms of work. Indeed, our results show that, on the one hand, MTurk jobs offer considerable flexibility, but they also involve precarious working conditions. Workers, while enjoying a certain degree of autonomy, face considerable financial pressures and work overload, which negatively impact their well-being. The characteristics of the jobs performed directly affect the well-being of Turks.

Personal development

In contrast, tasks that are perceived as essential and significant improve the quality of life of the person performing them and promote their development. Thus, employees who invest time in activities that they consider essential and evaluate these tasks positively see increased potential for their personal development. Conversely, excessive work and financial pressures harm personal satisfaction and self-acceptance, thus lowering Turker’s overall quality of life.

The need to devote a lot of time to earn an adequate salary through turking increases the risk of overwork, which worsens the quality of life. Precarious conditions, characterized by fragmented and poorly paid tasks, enhance financial pressure. These elements have a direct impact on the perception of quality of life. In addition, they cause psychological difficulties, negatively affecting the self-esteem of employees, thus leading to an even greater deterioration in the perception of their overall quality of life.

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What’s more, behind this promise of flexibility lies an increased dependence of Turks on their platform earnings. Their need for this vital income exposes them to economic instability, which is a consequence of the sporadic nature and low pay of platform tasks.

Moreover, since this does not guarantee continuity of work, there is constant pressure to secure the next task. Turks report working long hours, often necessary to generate real income, which can lead to deterioration of their mental and physical health.

All automation, illusion or hidden uncertainty?

Whether it’s people watching hours of videos or performing repetitive microtasks, the digital economy seems to be growing more in jobs transformed into uncertain solutions.

In both cases, in the case of the automated store or Mechanical Turk, technology is used to maximize efficiency and reduce costs, often at the expense of employee safety and well-being. This approach raises essential questions about business ethics and social responsibility in the digital age. There is also the issue of technological ID all these innovations.

Read more: Amazon’s hidden product page is back

Our research advocates for improving the management and design of tasks assigned to algorithmic platforms. These tasks should be designed not only to be rewarding, but also satisfying and meaningful, in order to improve employee well-being. Integrating elements that enhance a sense of personal achievement and meaningful contribution to society is indispensable.

Improving working conditions should also be a key concern for platform managers, in particular by introducing measures to reduce job insecurity, such as minimum income guarantees or protection against overemployment. Support policies, such as health insurance or pension contributions, can aid alleviate workers’ financial problems.

Finally, strategies to reduce financial pressures should be considered, in particular by encouraging fair and limpid remuneration, which can aid reduce the financial pressures felt by employees and improve their job satisfaction. Providing training and professional development opportunities could also aid employees better cope with the challenges of working on algorithmic platforms.