Now that it is clear remote work is here to stay, both employees and managers are navigating new workplace challenges, such as concerns about working in isolation. There is much to be learned from experiences of gig workers – anyone working independently on a “gig-to-gig” basis.
Gig work comes with some upsides, like being one’s own boss and setting one’s own schedule. But the isolation typical of gig work can also take an emotional toll. Gig workers often feel lonely and anxious because they lack easy access to relationships or membership in an organization. Working this way also has implications for professional development. Gig workers often lack access to resources that help traditional workers do their jobs and advance their careers, like feedback, new ideas, knowledge and even emotional support.
Many gig workers have learned to flourish in the face of these challenges. How do they equip themselves to thrive in work environments that isolate them from their colleagues? One way to break the isolation of working alone is to intentionally craft a support system.
Emerging research on gig workers’ social lives suggests it is possible to build a thriving social community even when work does not come with built-in relationships. Instead, gig workers must be proactive and resourceful in pursuing and deepening these connections. More and more gig worker communities, for example, are popping up in various cities, facilitated by online forums, writers’ associations and co-working spaces. These groups can provide a sense of belonging to a larger community.
Another way gig workers creatively cultivate relationships is by routinely working in the same public space — like a coffee shop. Research findings suggest that gig workers fare better when they proactively seek out and foster the meaningful relationships shown to support thriving and managing difficult emotions, like anxiety, at work.
Understanding where gig workers struggle and what they do to effectively manage these challenges can help all of us as we try to navigate a future of work where “going to work” often means being alone.