When Gig Work Meets Extreme Weather

November 27, 2024

SCM Jeans/Getty Images

Summary.

Extreme weather events from heat waves to hurricanes have been exacerbated by global warming. This is particularly bad news for outdoor workers like food delivery couriers. During extreme heat, couriers working for China’s Meituan, Spain’s Glovo, and India’s Swiggy rush to complete deliveries on time, struggling with delay penalties and significant health risks. What’s more, food couriers usually lack formal worker status, leaving them without essential labor protections.

Susan F. Lu is a Professor of Operations Management and Statistics and holds the Alan Hudson Chair in Health Policy at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. She earned her Ph.D. from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University and has established herself as a leading researcher at the intersection of healthcare management, innovation, supply chain management and human-AI interaction.

Run Ge is an assistant professor of economics at the School of Public Economics and Administration of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics. His research focuses on labor economics and environmental economics.

Wenzheng Mao is an associate professor at school of economics and management, Tongji University, China. Her research focuses on empirical operations management, supply chain management and industrial organization.

Read more on Workplace health and safety or related topics Climate change, Corporate social responsibility, Business and society, Labor, Customer service, Algorithms, Consumer services and Asia

When Gig Work Meets Extreme Weather

Summary.

Partner Center