One of the worst and most ignored problems in the gig economy is service provider strain. For a wage cheque, no employee should have to sacrifice their health. A considerate LinkedIn post that brought attention to this issue has gone viral and resonated with a lot of people. It provided insight into the everyday challenges faced by gig workers, particularly those connected to home service platforms such as Urban Company.
For all the right reasons, a well-considered LinkedIn post about the difficulties faced by gig workers goes viral.
Recently, a heartfelt and heartfelt LinkedIn post by Magpiee Brand Solutions Managing Partner Anjali Kelkar went viral, and with good reason. The piece highlights the hidden challenges faced by gig workers and was inspired by the author’s own encounter with an Urban Company home spa professional. Although Kelkar commended Urban Company for its high-quality services, she wasn’t afraid to draw attention to the human cost of those well-executed encounters.
In her LinkedIn post, Kelkar recounted how she had scheduled a spa treatment for 7:30 PM, but the designated practitioner, Nisa (name changed), contacted to ask for a small postponement. She was obviously emotionally and physically exhausted when she eventually showed there. Due to back-to-back appointments, Nisa hadn’t eaten all day. As Kelkar handed her water and a snack, she became aware of the difficult circumstances that many gig workers encounter. Nisa’s story was tragic and enlightening, as she described how she was unable to refuse appointments even while ill and had to carry heavy equipment throughout the city without stopping for rest.
Although the article didn’t specifically target Urban Company, it did criticise the system for prioritising speed and ratings over the welfare of people. Employees are frequently pushed beyond their physical and mental limitations due to a lack of adequate buffers between appointments, the pressure to maintain high ratings, and the possibility of losing money for cancellations. Kelkar wondered if such a high price should be paid for such a positive client experience.
View her entire post here:
Numerous others found resonance in the LinkedIn article and expressed their opinions in the comments section.
Anjali Kelkar’s widely shared LinkedIn post reached thousands of people and started a much-needed discussion around service providers’ well-being. Numerous experts and frequent users expressed their support, had comparable experiences, and voiced their own worries on the handling of gig workers in the comments section.
Some thought the problem required more immediate action, such completely refusing the service when a worker is obviously in distress, while others commended Kelkar for her empathy and for utilising her platform to draw attention to the difficulties faced by service workers. Some readers related their personal “horror stories” about how gig workers—particularly those on sites like Urban Company—are frequently abused by clients, overworked, and underpaid.
Check out some of the comments,
In response to the post, Urban Company said:
Anjali Kelkar’s insightful piece quickly gained popularity, and Urban Company gave a cool response in the comments section. She expressed empathy for the service professional, and the firm noted her concern and praised her for her long-standing support. They acknowledged that more work has to be done, but they also promised that the appropriate teams had been informed of her input.
Employees must be taken care of because they are a company’s greatest asset. How do you feel about this LinkedIn post? Please feel free to comment below with your ideas.
