Gig-workers and supply chains
Prof Dayna Simpson, Dr Paul Zhou, and Dr Margie Lee along with colleagues from the University of Melbourne (Prof Marie Segrave) and Oregon State University (Prof Zhaohui Wu) through a Discovery grant (2026 – 2028) are investigating the shift of work out of organisations and into gig-work in supply chains.
The research looks at the ideal structures for business, independent workers and platforms, to ensure worker protection and service quality in the gig economy. Gig work lacks the protection of other employment however with higher risks of worker injury or exploitation. Traditional buyer-supplier systems however ignore the impacts of gig-work (or how to manage gig-work).
The research develops a worker and supply chain focused understanding of gig-work in order to address critical gaps in labor governance and service performance in gig-work. The project's expected outcomes include better business oversight of gig work performance and protections.