Sentidos do trabalho na uberização: um estudo com motoristas de aplicativo

Abstract

The social phenomenon of uberization has been transforming labor relations and intensifying debates about the constitution of contemporary work. It is a new work relationship mediated by digital platforms, without any type of employment relationship, marked by the loss of social rights and precariousness. In this sense, the general objective of this research was to understand the meanings attributed to work in an uberization context, from the perspective of drivers linked to transport applications. Specifically, we sought to: a) analyze the conditions and work relationships experienced by drivers linked to transport applications, identifying the elements of uberization that most impact their daily work; b) analyze the meaning, guidance and monitoring of work for drivers linked to transport applications; c) verify the perception of drivers linked to transport applications about the characteristics of a job with meaning. For that, an exploratory study with a qualitative approach was developed, in which ten semi-structured interviews were carried out with app drivers working in Florianópolis/SC. As main results, it is highlighted that drivers have difficulties to separate the professional sphere from the personal sphere; have exhaustive working hours of more than 12 (twelve) hours; they do not endorse the discourse of “self-entrepreneurs”; highlight autonomy and the financial factor as essential for the work to have meaning, to be motivated and to have motivation. In conclusion, understanding the meanings attributed to work in an uberization context, from the perspective of drivers, generates the reflection that this new work relationship, romanticized by the media and by the platforms themselves, portrays a scenario that is completely opposite to what is disclosed society, bringing a relevant debate on the subject.