Matthew Cole was a Postdoctoral Researcher with Fairwork, researching global platforms. Matthew completed his PhD at the University of Leeds in 2019. Titled “The Politics of Service Production: Experiences of Low-Waged Hospitality Work in London” it examined the production of experience as a commodity and conflict in the labour process. His post-doctoral research broadly concerns the political economy of technology and work, particularly the role of artificial intelligence and platforms in the transformation of capital-labour relations. He is also a research affiliate at Autonomy, a think tank about work.
Technological change, platform work, automation, digitalisation, political economy of work, industrial relations, trades-unionism
I conduct my research in line with the University's academic integrity code of practice.
By Kelle Howson, Hannah Johnston, Nancy Salem, Robbie Warin, Fabian Ferrari, Yihan Zhu, Pablo Aguera Reneses, Funda Ustek-Spilda, Daniel Arubayi, Srujana Katta, Shelly Steward, Matthew Cole, Adam Badger, and Mark Graham
What sort of working standards do gig economy remote workers face? This Fairwork report scores 17 platforms on the conditions they offer, and highlights the failure to offer basic standards of fairness across much of the cloudwork industry.
By Alessio Bertolini, Matthew Cole, Mark Graham, Srujana Katta, Daniel Arubayi, and Funda Ustek-Spilda
Workers in the growing gig economy face persistent gaps in worker protections. This first Fairwork UK ratings report scores ten platforms on the working conditions that they offer and highlights where labour standards need improving.
8 June 2022
New Oxford report reveals best and worst practices in UK gig economy.
25 May 2021
Eleven of the UK’s most popular digital labour platforms have been rated according to how fairly they treat workers. In the first study of its kind in the UK, Oxford researchers score companies on standards such as pay, conditions and management.
17 March 2021
The Guardian, 09 August 2023
The culture, media and sport select committee has warned of risks not just to workers’ jobs but also their autonomy
New Statesman, 15 February 2023
Academics have warned MPs that the use of connected tech in the workplace needs to be better regulated.
New Statesman, 04 November 2022
Academics have warned MPs that the use of connected tech in the workplace needs to be better regulated.
