HR and CSR in times of gig-economy

Somers Town (Camden) based Elephant Path launches an experimental enterprise that offers micro-services to tackle office stress and economic inactivity.

During their working life, employees spend on average a third of their waking hours at their desk. This explains why domestic duties also have to be performed here – which adds to stress at work. Research has shown that office-based workers spend on average 1hour 20minutes of their 8h working day organising personal activities [relating to food, clothing, maintenance of cars and bicycles, …].

In a neighbourhood in which 44% of the population is inactive [double the UK average of 21%], this sounds like a bad division of labour. And of income. Outsourcing tasks from overstretched employees to unemployed locals allows the latter to test and improve their skills, the former to concentrate on what they are good at with less stress, and both to contribute to the development of the local area.

To explore the potential of this mutually reinforcing connection, we want to set up a self-sustaining enterprise that offers micro-services to employees. This experimental enterprise will be at the cutting edge of Human Resource Management, Corporate Social Responsibility values, Community Relations and the Gig Economy.

In the run-up to its launch, we are seeking input from experts to anticipate and overcome legal, social, political and practical hurdles. We would like to invite Knowledge Quarter partners, especially those who are experts in HR, CSR, Community Engagement and Gig Economy to contribute their experience to help shape the experiment at this early stage.

If you would like to get involved or to find out more please contact Jim at jim@citymined.org by Friday 21 July.

For more information about The Experiment click here.