PhD thesis defence by Tiago Vieira
This dissertation examines the impact of algorithmic management on the employment relationship. It argues that, although algorithmic management is often presented as a tool for enhancing efficiency and fairness, it has the potential to exacerbate existing power imbalances and undermine workers' rights. The dissertation comprises five empirical studies, structured as publishable articles, that provide evidence supporting these claims. These articles draw on two large-scale European surveys and qualitative case studies of various companies employing algorithms to manage operations and labour. To offer a comprehensive view of the ongoing transformation, the dissertation incorporates perspectives from both workers and managers. The findings suggest that algorithmic management can lead to several adverse outcomes for workers, including increased job insecurity and turnover, diminished autonomy and control, heightened surveillance and monitoring, reduced trust in management, limited opportunities for worker participation and voice, and, in some cases, detrimental effects on occupational health. The dissertation concludes that, while algorithmic management may not necessarily result rely on automated managerial processes, it can still exacerbate the already asymmetrical power dynamics within the employment relationship. This imbalance may provoke resistance or, due to the historical trajectory of the employment relationship, lead to resentful compliance, fostering a new form of employers’ hegemony that contributes to greater inequality. Concluding, policymakers are urged to strengthen regulatory frameworks that empower workers to mitigate the negative impacts of algorithmic management. It is argued that the success of such an initiative will depend upon a generalised reinforcement of workers’ rights and participation in decision-making processes, as well as on practical measures to ensure the enhancement of their capacity to take part in such processes.
Tiago Vieira is a PhD candidate in Political and Social Sciences at the European University Institute. He holds a BA in Sociology from the University of Coimbra and an MA in Current Democracies from Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona. Beyond academia, he has held various roles in social and political organisations, most notably serving as President of the World Federation of Democratic Youth from 2008 to 2011.