Demands and Resources in Work Mediated by Digital Platforms: A Scoping Review of the Literature

Abstract Work arrangements with hiring mediated by digital platforms (digiwork) have grown exponentially in recent years, both in the form of crowdwork and in the form of work on demand via app. However, there is still little systematization regarding knowledge about the elements that characterize this arrangement. Through a scoping review of the literature covering the period from 2005 to 2021, this study sought to identify the digiwork design characteristics, organizing it based on two specific categories: its requirements and the resources available to the worker. For that, it used the model of job demands and resources (JD-R) as a theoretical basis. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the 43 articles reviewed allowed for the identification of an important imbalance between the demands and resources present in digiwork. It also indicated many missing resources that make it difficult for workers to adequately deal with the demands of both the organization and the task. Among the most prominent demands, imprecision in labor categorization, surveillance via algorithmic management and self-management of risks stand out, while flexibility appears as the most cited resource present, and social protection as the most relevant resource absent. Taken together, the digiwork design characteristics may contribute to the worker's burnout process, in addition to interfering with their motivational process. This generates both suboptimal performance and damage to the worker’s health and well-being.

摘要：以数字平台为招聘中介的工作模式（digiwork）近年来呈指数级增长，其表现形式涵盖众包工作与应用程序按需用工两类。然而，当前针对该模式核心特征要素的系统化研究仍较为匮乏。本研究针对2005年至2021年的相关文献开展范围综述，旨在梳理数字用工的设计特征，并基于两大具体维度对其进行归类：一是工作要求，二是劳动者可获取的资源。本研究以工作要求-资源模型（job demands and resources, JD-R）作为理论基础。在通过纳入排除标准筛选后，研究团队对43篇纳入分析的文献进行综述，结果发现数字用工场景下的工作要求与可用资源存在显著失衡。研究同时表明，大量必要资源的缺失使得劳动者难以有效应对来自用工组织与工作任务的双重要求。其中最为突出的工作要求包括：劳动分类界定模糊、算法管理下的监控机制以及风险的自我承担；现有资源中被提及最多的是灵活性，而缺失的最关键资源则为社会保障。综合来看，数字用工的模式特征不仅会干扰劳动者的动机形成过程，还可能诱发职业倦怠，进而导致工作表现欠佳，并损害劳动者的健康与福祉。