It developed with the digitization. We're talking about her as a fresh phenomenon, but we've been working according to her rules for respective years. What's that? What are the benefits and risks for workers? This was discussed at the University of Łódź on 22 May 2025 at the conference "Platforms, algorithms and people – working in the digital world". And these were highly interesting conversations.
What is platform work? It is simply a form of employment implemented through platforms. They organize the work, they manage it.
It is estimated that more than 28 million people make money in the European Union through 1 or more digital platforms. In Poland about 3 million.
The character of platform work. Pros and cons
She talked about the opportunities and dangers of this kind of earning, Dr. Zofia Pawłowska from the Central Institute for Labour Protection – the State investigation Institute (CIOP PIB).
Algorithmic management and the kind of employment contract have a major influence on platform operating conditions.
As Dr. Pawłowska pointed out, there is not much investigation about this. It is hard to measure working conditions, even if many tasks are done online or hybridly, as in the case of taxi drivers or couriers.
It's made by different people. It can supply extra income. It promotes employment of groups at hazard of exclusion. It gives flexibility in carrying out tasks. It drives the improvement of digital solutions.
“It will be good for people if it is not Precaric work. Hence, legal regulations are needed" - emphasised Dr. Pawłowska. Otherwise, it can deepen inequality.
Transparency is very crucial in algorithmic management. The staff associate should be informed of the principles and results of his assessment. However, investigation shows that fewer people receive this information. In the event of an unfair assessment, there is simply a problem with whom to contact.
Negative features of specified a job? Among the employees asked about this, the most corresponding (70 percent) indicated income uncertainty.
In 2023, experts assessed global platforms in terms of, among others, salaries (above the minimum after deduction of costs), working conditions, contracts, management. Interestingly, there were platforms that received zero points in Poland, and in another countries they achieved a affirmative balance. If only this example clearly showed the importance of implementing good practices.
The situation is to normalize Directive (EU) 2024/2831 on improving working conditions through online platforms of 23 October 2024. associate States have time to implement it by 2 December 2026
Dark algorithms page
Algorithmic management is about minimising human participation in work. Algorithms can manage various tasks.
"The way we program an algorithm can produce different kinds of effects. Different acts of dehumanisation may occur’
– she pointed out Dr Dorota Merecz-Kot, Prof. UŁ.
And here we come algorithmic operation, this action by companies – whether intentional or not – in which companies usage algorithms in an unethical way. They do it to maximize profits.
She showed up. algorithmic dehumanisation. The phenomenon of dehumanization known from past in a digitized planet has been automated and hidden in code. People doing standard activities become invisible.
The world's investigation shows that in the management of standard algorithms and the pace of work, task schedules change with the situation, dynamically. specified conditions lead to a sense of failure of autonomy and control by the employee.
Continuous digital surveillance can origin fear of observation, and if the pace of work is besides high, a threat to work safety. This all has a negative effect on wellness and well-being. With the belief that all decision we make is being followed, a sense of being persecuted can make and algorithmic paranoia. It is crucial in social relations, fosters a tendency to punish, aggression, which may become a social problem in the future.
Do we look at the hands of people who make algorithms adequate in this situation? The goals and methods that they are assigned?
After all, “people are behind the algorithms”, stressed Prof. Merecz-Kot. She besides noted that "Gig economy leads to a worrying phenomenon: failure of labour rights".
Trade unions in online platforms
It's mostly work deals, civilian law contracts... He called the work for the platforms a garbage job, a silver paper built. Michał Lewandowski,
Chairman of the Board of the National OPZZ Labour Confederation, president of the Council of OPZZ Trade, Services, Culture and Arts.
The Labour Confederation has decided to scope out to sectors that have not yet been unionised. Traders ordered reinforcements and spoke to couriers. They asked them about working conditions, how they could help. That's how they got to delicious.pl
Meeting the conditions needed to establish a relation was not easy, but they did not give up. As a result, in October 2022 he appeared first trade union in the platform industry in Poland In yummy.pl.
Many changes request to be made to platform work. People should be guaranteed:
- stability of earnings and sustainability of work,
- the end of work beyond force,
- rights enshrined in the Labour Code,
- transparency of algorithms, transparency of management and remuneration.
There is, of course, a certain degree of flexibility in employment, but it should not be abused.
The union tries to scope out to legislators, to talk to representatives of ministries. Supporting staff from another platforms is besides an crucial part of the action.
As an objective, president Marek Lewandowski pointed out the pro-working implementation of the EU Directive on Platform Work.
Our future with AI
What's it gonna be? Or what could she be? respective speeches included attempts to respond.
Prof. Dr. Sylwia Wojtczak from the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University in his speech “Artificial Intelligence in 3 Years. The legal position on opportunities and threats" began with the position of the next 3 years. Why so many?
The starting point was Ray Kurzweil's book "The Personality Getting Closer". What is this “personality”? It's a metaphor – it's a minute in the improvement of AI that we can't imagine what's next. What happens erstwhile AI reaches a certain critical cause, e.g. consciousness equal to human consciousness. Turns out it doesn't should be a distant future.
After the first period of free improvement begins a very fast increase in the anticipation of AI. He's starting to make himself. I don't request advanced training anymore. According to predictions in the 1930s, it will be possible to combine higher parts of our fresh bark with the AI cloud. By 2045, there will be a “personality”.
What does the law say? Various legal acts are being created in the European Union. Work has been taking place intensively since 2017. In many cases there are delays or prolonged discussions. There are many stakeholders in the legal processes.
There's inactive quite a few work to do with the lawyers. And what will the work planet look like? Will algorithms replace humans?
According to forecasts, the number of tasks performed alone by people will fall to 33% of the work. AI accelerates changes in the labour market.
What do we have? "AI at work – adaptation, cooperation or occupational risk?" she wondered. Dr. Dominika Kaczorowska-Składalska, Prof. UŁ, Management Department.
According to the study of the Polish economical Institute (2024) on the Polish market, these works are peculiarly susceptible to the impact of artificial intelligence, which require higher qualifications, specified as financiers, lawyers, programmers. besides any state officials, secretaries, as well as academic teachers and part of the management staff of enterprises.
What barriers to AI implementation do entrepreneurs see? The biggest challenge is to prepare appropriate models adapted to the needs of a peculiar company. Worldwide, 40% of companies plan to replace AI with employees.
What threats do experts see?:
- increasing wage inequality,
- decrease in request for middle-skilled workers, e.g. junior positions,
- new intellectual burdens,
- risk of discrimination, breach of privacy
- some AI-based monitoring systems can increase time pressure, leading to errors, stress.
Using AI is both a benefit and a challenge. In many ways, it can be helpful, but the possible negative consequences must besides be carefully observed. According to the expert, the choice is inactive ours.
The task was prepared as part of the improvement of the Centre for the Support of Councils of Workers co-financed by the National Institute of Freedom Centre for the improvement of civilian Society under the Government Programme for the improvement of Advisory Organisations for the period 2022–2033.
