As part of the labour geography research group, I'm interested in the production of labour market inequalities emerging from digital transformation. I'm particularly interested in differentiation categories like gender, race or age.

Ph.D. project: How digital labour platforms reshape spatio-temporal patterns of work.

In my research project I focus on the social, spatial, and temporal working arrangements emerging in platform-mediated labour in Switzerland. Online Platforms like Uber or Coople match short-term jobs and workers with the help of code, algorithms, and customized applications. Matches through digitial communication allow an almost instant connection of employers, consumers, and workers.
While positive aspects of platform-mediated labour are highlighted more critical scholars point to potentially problematic effects. Working conditions and the observation that labour relations are being socially, spatially, and temporally rearticulated in ways that can put workers into disadvantaged positions are discussed. Another crucial and unresolved issue is the question of power imbalances on the platforms, where “the code” and “the algorithm” match labour demand and supply in ways that are often opaque to workers and limit their opportunities for negotiation.
In my project I aim to investigate how digital labour platforms shape low-wage work relations and what impact they have on workers’ lives. Empirically, I proceed in two steps: My web-based research allowed me to generate an overview of the existing labour intermediation platform market in Switzerland. My autoethnographic fieldwork as a digital platform worker enables me to get a deep insight into daily lives of gig workers. Therefore, I shift the focus to the workers’ perspective and  contribute to our understanding of how digital platforms reshape spatio-temporal patterns of work in Switzerland today.

TALKS

Powerful Rhythms: On the influence of Platform Labour on the crisis of social reproduction. AAG Annual Meeting, Denver/online (January 2023).

Machtvolle Rhythmen: Zum Einfluss digitaler Arbeitsvermittlungsplattformen auf die Krise(n) der sozialen Reproduktion. Tagung neue Kulturgeographie mit Isabella Stingl, Halle (Saale) (Januar, 2023).

Plattformen im Care-Sektor. Wie digitale Arbeitsvermittlung Arbeitsalltage von Care-Arbeiter:innen verändert. Tieflohnarbeit in Bewegung? Stagnation und Wandel im Dienstleistungssektor, Tagung Hochschule für Wirtschaft, FHNW, Olten (September 2022).

Ein Selbstversuch: Arbeiten in der Gig-Economy. Museum Schaffen. Rahmenprogramm zur laufenden Ausstellung "System Reset", Winterthur (April 2022).

The Platformisation of care. How digital labour intermediation platforms transform domestic care workers' daily lives. 2nd Digital Geographies Conference, online (October 2021).

Getting the first gig: Exploring Access to platform labour in Switzerland. RGS-IBG annual International Conference, London/online (September 2021).

Die digitale Plattform als Chefin: Arbeitsrealitäten in der Gig-Ökonomie. Science Alumni UZH Mitgliederversammlung 2021 mit Karin Schwiter, Zürich/online (Juni 2021).

Platformisation of care. How digital labour intermediation platforms transform domestic care work. Symposium Platform Urbanism. Towards a technocapitalist transformation of European cities?, with Karin Schwiter, Graz/online (March 2021).

Arbeiten für uber, notime, foodora, amazon, notime und co.: prekäre Arbeitsverhältnisse in der digitalisierten Welt, gewerkschaftliche Organisierung und Widerstand. Reclaim Democracy Kongress mit Roman Künzler,  Simon Schaupp, Karin Schwiter, und Beni Stückelberger, Zürich (Februar 2020).

Working as a coopler! Thoughts on autoethnographic work in the field. Swiss feminist geographies, Kick-off event of ASG thematic group, Neuchâtel (February 2020).

Arbeiten als coopler, helpling, batmaid, notimer und co.: Wie online Arbeitsvermittlungsplattformen die Arbeit von morgen gestalten. Tagung Neue Kulturgeographie mit Karin Schwiter, Bonn (Januar 2020).

Diskussionen um Männlichkeit: Junge Männer in Berufen mit statistisch tiefem Männeranteil. Tagung Zeitdiagnose Männlichkeiten in der Schweiz, St. Gallen (März 2018).

ORGANIZATION OF EVENTS

Geographies of work and worker's experiences. Paper session at the Symposium "Bodies, Cultures, Societies". Swiss Geoscience Meeting, with Isabella Stingl, Zürich/online (November 2020).

WORKSHOPS

Arbeiten für uber, notime, foodora, amazon, notime und co.: prekäre Arbeitsverhältnisse in der digitalisierten Welt, gewerkschaftliche Organisierung und Widerstand. Reclaim Democracy Kongress mit Roman Künzler,  Simon Schaupp, Karin Schwiter, und Beni Stückelberger, Zürich (Februar 2020).

Diskussionen um Männlichkeit: Junge Männer in Berufen mit statistisch tiefem Männeranteil. GenderBazaar - Weiterbildung zu Gender in der offenen Kinder- und Jugendarbeit, Bern (Dezember 2018).