Motivation of Freelance Employees in the Gig Economy in Turkey

Abstract

In the current industrial and organizational psychology literature, predominantly salaried, paid, permanent and full-time employees in a certain workplace and in a certain time period are represented. This study examines the motivations that pull / push the freelancers working on various online labour platforms to the gig economy in Turkey. In the study, mixed method was used as data collection technique. In the quantitative stage of the research, a survey was conducted on 117 people, while semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 people in the qualitative phase. Survey data in the SPSS 20.0 program, qualitative data were analyzed descriptively. As a result, it was understood that the most obvious motivation factors of freelancers are independence, success drive and flexibility. The Gig economy provides employees with the opportunity to work flexibly, allowing them to organize their own work programs and control their labor processes, while also contrasting with the optimistic depictions of a flexible economy. It is also seen that freelance employees feel free of friendship relationships, excluded and isolated from other people.