Casual workers & Coronavirus

Professor George Morgan, associate professor at Western Sydney University & co-author of ‘The Creativity Hoax: Precarious Work and the Gig Economy’, joins Michael to discuss his recent article that highlights the precarious nature of being a casual employee in the wake of Coronavirus.

Professor Morgan writes ‘last week a Tasmanian bar worker turned up for his shift even though the doctor who had just tested him for COVID-19 directed him to self-isolate pending the results. The tests were positive, he is now in quarantine, but it is possible he infected some of those who came into contact with him at work.’

‘We are quick to demonise such people as being recklessly indifferent to public health, but the situation is morally complicated, and has sparked a debate about the plight of casual and gig economy workers in the current crisis.’