Flexible working – where are we now?

Across the UK, more than 4.5 million people work in the gig economy – and the number has risen steadily over the past decade.

What has driven this boom? Studies have consistently pointed to one factor: flexibility. Many of us want something that will give us the choice of exactly how and when we work.

As one of the largest gig economy platforms, Uber is at the forefront of this shift. So what do drivers on the app think of the flexibility which is at the heart of the gig economy?

To find out, Spectator editor Fraser Nelson spoke to Kasey (above), who drives with Uber in London, for a special edition podcast.

When asked how she got started with Uber, Kasey said she was originally looking for a part-time job while she built her own cake business.

‘I tried lots of different jobs but none of them really worked for me,’ she said. ‘Every time I got an order for a cake, I had to negotiate with my boss about taking time off.’

It was when she heard a radio advert for Uber that Kasey wondered if driving might be the better option.

‘I liked the idea of having that flexibility – being able to work lots when I wanted and then switch off completely when I didn’t,’ she says.

This same flexible model is helping millions of people to have more control over their working weeks.

For some, gig work is a useful way of topping up their income and is essentially treated as a fully flexible, part-time job. For others it helps them keep earning while juggling family responsibilities.

Meanwhile, gig platforms themselves are constantly evolving, looking for ways to better meet the needs of those who use them – whatever those might be.

Last spring, Uber took a landmark step when it became the first gig platform of its kind to recognise those who drive with Uber as workers. From March last year, anyone driving on the Uber app in Britain has access to holiday pay, pension contributions, as well as a guarantee to earn at least the National Living Wage – although most drivers can and do earn more. This is in addition to the other benefits Uber offers to drivers, including access to sickness cover, Open University degrees and free language courses.

‘We know drivers value those changes,’ says Andrew Brem, Uber’s UK General Manager. ‘But we also know they really want the flexibility that comes with driving with us.’

It’s a premise that resonates with many gig workers – including Kasey. ‘When I started driving with Uber, I never thought I’d still be doing it six years later – but here we are,’ she says.

‘It’s that combination of control, flexibility and good earnings that works so well for me.’