WEHRM Research Community Seminar – Dr Konstantina (Nadia) Kougiannou

Title: Exploring the Relevance of Motivation and Job Satisfaction in Platform-Based Food Delivery Gig Work

Date:  31 January 2024

Time: 14:00-15:00

Location: NUBS.2.12

If you would like to attend, please register using the following link:

Exploring the Relevance of Motivation and Job Satisfaction in Platform-Based Food Delivery Gig Work

Speaker: Dr Konstantina (Nadia) Kougiannou

Dr Konstantina (Nadia) Kougiannou, Associate Professor of Work and Employment and Co-Director of Research Outputs at Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University. Nadia’ s principal research expertise traverses work and employment relations and human resource management (HRM). She is currently investigating work and working conditions in the gig economy; the impact of technology app-work on employee voice, working conditions and the employment relationship; employer practices and employee reactions in complex and challenging contexts, such as economic recession; and the impact trust and justice have on the operation and effectiveness of representative voice. She is also part of a research team that is exploring the role of line managers in employee engagement in collaboration with Engage for Success. She has published in high-quality international journals, including Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Human Resource Management Journal, British Journal of Industrial Relations, British Journal of Management, New Technology, Work and Employment, and Journal of Business Research. Her publications demonstrate her commitment to advancing the field of work and employment relations, and HRM through rigorous and impactful research.

Abstract

In this seminar, the intricate relationships between participation in the gig economy, the structural nuances of gig work, and their profound impact on the attitudes, perceptions, and behaviours of couriers—be they full-time workers or part-time side hustlers will be discussed. The research, centred on platform-based food delivery gig work, challenges conventional wisdom surrounding motivation and job satisfaction. The findings of this study show that the lived experiences of gig workers play a pivotal role in shaping their satisfaction and motivation, thereby redefining the narrative beyond the traditional scope of standard employment relationships. By offering a glimpse into the unique experiences of gig workers, the study addresses the growing demand for a deeper understanding of their attitudes and opens up new avenues for theorising motivation and job satisfaction within the gig economy. The implications of the discoveries are twofold: firstly, it responds to the urgent need for a comprehensive examination of gig workers’ experiences, attitudes, and job satisfaction, and secondly, it provides valuable insights for organisational behaviour scholars and practitioners seeking to navigate the challenges posed by similar groups of workers in comparable occupational contexts.