A micro job is a small paid

freelance ''Freelance'' (sometimes spelled ''free-lance'' or ''free lance''), ''freelancer'', or ''freelance worker'', are terms commonly used for a person who is self-employed and not necessarily committed to a particular employer long-term. Freelance w ...

task selected from a centralized platform. The practice of working micro jobs is called microemployment, and people doing micro jobs are called microemployees. These jobs can be online or in-person: for example, acting as a

virtual assistant A virtual assistant (VA) is a software agent that can perform a range of tasks or services for a user based on user input such as commands or questions, including verbal ones. Such technologies often incorporate chatbot capabilities to streaml ...

handyman A handyman, also known as a fixer, handyperson or handyworker, maintenance worker, maintenance man, repairman, repair worker, or repair technician, is a person who is knowledgeable in skills such as basic carpentry, plumbing, minor electrical w ...

, or

nanny A nanny is a person who provides child care. Typically, this care is given within the children's family setting. Throughout history, nannies were usually servants in large households and reported directly to the lady of the house. Today, modern ...

; or doing website design, dog boarding, or errands. Personal income varies depending on the jobs taken and the fee charged by the platform offering the jobs. The concept is related to that of the

gig economy The gig economy is the economic system by which a workforce of people (known as gig workers) engage in freelance and/or side-employment. Description The gig economy is composed of corporate entities, workers and consumers. The Internal Reve ...

. The micro-job industry is part of a larger movement of companies facilitating the outsourcing of products: for example AirBNB, which lets users independently rent out houses. Microemployment sites are growing rapidly as of 2013 and form a new type on-demand income for workers. These platforms can sometimes earn billions of dollars.

Differences from traditional jobs

Most micro jobs do not pay benefits. Workers also cannot rely on a steady paycheck.

In law

Microemployees are classified as independent contractors under the law, meaning they are not considered employees of the companies they work for. As independent contractors, they bear full legal responsibility for their actions and compliance with applicable regulations. The law is murky, however, on the relationship between microemployees and marketplaces where workers find jobs. Lawsuits are expected to test this connection. In January 2014 the Kuang-Liu family, of

San Francisco San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...

, CA, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Uber and driver Syed Muzzafar. The accident, which caused the death of their 6-year-old daughter and injured two other family members, was allegedly caused while Muzzafar was fulfilling a driving job from Uber. Individual auto insurance policies do not cover commercial activities, which may result in denials of claims if drivers are working for hire. To prevent legal complications, some ride service providers are requiring their drivers to purchase commercial insurance. Legislation for microemployment work issues remains unclear and unresolved.

References

{{reflist Crowdsourcing Business terms Digital labor

Differences from traditional jobs

In law

See also

References