Hectic and unpredictable times: the work shifts and everyday Life of Italian-Bangladeshi Uber drivers in London

This study aims to contribute to the literature on migrant labour in the platform economy and the work-life balance by examining the case of Italian-Bangladeshi Uber drivers in London. Drawing on in-depth interviews with drivers and stakeholders, the research explores how Uber’s model of algorithmic management and flexible employment impacts drivers’ economic stability, social lives, and well-being. While Uber marketizes its work as autonomous and flexible, findings reveal that drivers work long and often unpredictable hours, job insecurity, and financial strain. Health issues, including back pain and sleep deprivation, are widespread, exacerbated by irregular work schedules and lack of proper breaks. Furthermore, drivers report strained family relationships due to conflicting schedules, with many missing key social and family moments. The article concludes that Uber’s rhetoric of driver autonomy masks a system that blurs the boundaries between work and personal life, leaving drivers in a state of economic and social instability.