Gig workers less shaken by manager trust issues — study

NEW HAMPSHIRE, UNITED STATES — Researchers at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) have found that gig workers are less emotionally affected by breaches of trust with managers compared to full-time employees.

The study, published in the Journal of Trust Research, examined relationships between gig workers and their managers. Gig workers include freelancers, independent contractors, and temporary workers.

Lead researcher Rachel Campagna explained that gig work’s flexibility often results in limited in-person interactions with managers, affecting trust levels. However, when trust issues occur, gig workers tend to recover more quickly and are less personally impacted compared to full-time staff.

“Gig workers don’t seem to take it personally, rebounding more quickly and brushing it off,” she added.

The research comprised multiple surveys targeting gig workers specifically. Results showed that these workers, unlike their full-time counterparts, recover quickly from trust issues, which has less impact on their job performance and commitment.

Co-researcher Jennifer Griffith stressed that while gig workers recover quickly from trust breaches, trust remains crucial for team cohesion and working relationships. 

“Even though they rebounded more quickly, trust is important in building relationships with not only a manager but also with co-workers and teams, and this study shows that it is important to invest in people, no matter their work circumstances,” Griffith stated. 

The UNH’s findings highlight the need for additional studies to better understand the complexities of trust in an evolving workforce increasingly dominated by non-traditional employment models.