Premium
Breaking the Managerial Silencing of Worker Voice in Platform Capitalism: The Rise of a Food Courier Network
Author(s) -
Kougiannou Nadia K.,
Mendonça Pedro
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
british journal of management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.407
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 1467-8551
pISSN - 1045-3172
DOI - 10.1111/1467-8551.12505
Subject(s) - silence , facilitator , employee voice , capitalism , context (archaeology) , business , order (exchange) , public relations , psychology , political science , social psychology , paleontology , philosophy , finance , politics , law , biology , aesthetics
This paper examines food couriers’ utilization of voice mechanisms as mobilization against employer silencing within platform capitalism. The concepts of ‘worker silence’ and ‘worker voice’ are used to facilitate an understanding of the way in which workers respond to workplace problems, as well as their capacity to respond within this specific context. Findings illustrate the role of technology as a facilitator but also inhibitor of worker voice. In particular, online food delivery companies’ over‐reliance on algorithmic management and their online app drove couriers to silence. However, in reaction to managerial silencing, we show that couriers are not passive recipients of forces beyond their control, and attempt to explore new trajectories and modes of voice in order to influence their working conditions. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.